Senegal’s political funds debate reignited by Aly Ngouille Ndiaye

Former Interior Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye has raised concerns about the 1.7 billion FCFA political funds allocated to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, suggesting the entire amount was exhausted before additional budgetary requests were made.

Former Prime Minister’s unprecedented access to political funds

Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, who previously held the Interior portfolio, has called into question the transparency surrounding the special funds allocated to Senegal’s top officials. Before addressing presidential allocations, he insists Ousmane Sonko must first clarify how these resources were managed during his tenure as head of government.

Highlighting the unprecedented nature of this allocation, Ngouille Ndiaye points out that Sonko is the first Senegalese Prime Minister to receive a dedicated political fund. He notes that while most former Prime Ministers—including Boun Abdallah Dionne and Amadou Bâ—are still alive, none received such an envelope. Sidiki Kaba, who succeeded Sonko, served too briefly for the issue to arise.

Unclear financial reporting raises transparency issues

The former minister also questions the ambiguity surrounding the 1.7 billion FCFA figure frequently cited by Sonko. While some suggest the amount is quarterly, others claim it is annual. If the former, Ngouille Ndiaye argues, the yearly total would reach 8 billion FCFA.

He echoes previous statements by Abdourahmane Diouf, asserting that the 1.7 billion FCFA envelope was fully spent before Sonko requested additional funds. The fact that his successor found no remaining balance, he argues, confirms that the first-quarter funds were entirely consumed—a factual observation rather than an accusation.

Aly Ngouille Ndiaye insists that, for the sake of consistency and transparency, Ousmane Sonko should have included his management of these special funds within the scope of the commissions of inquiry he himself established. He hints at possessing further undisclosed information but refrains from elaborating publicly at this stage.