Ousmane Sonko criticises judicial delays in financial accountability cases

During a recent interministerial council meeting focused on national infrastructure, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current state of judicial proceedings regarding financial accountability. The head of government did not hold back his frustration as he addressed the Minister of Justice, Yassine Fall, following her presentation on infrastructure deficits and project irregularities.

Sonko questions the effectiveness of the justice system

As the session concluded, Ousmane Sonko directly challenged the Minister of Justice. He questioned whether the government’s efforts were in vain if the legal system failed to act. He expressed serious doubts about the necessity of their current work if it leads to no tangible results for the country.

The Prime Minister lamented that the old system remains largely unchanged, allowing individuals to evade responsibility for financial mismanagement. He noted that despite billions being squandered, no significant judicial actions have been taken. According to Sonko, those responsible for these losses are still walking free, which he finds unacceptable given the mandate for change that brought the current administration to power.

Demanding transparency and results

Ousmane Sonko emphasized that the Sénégal public should not be expected to fund the same projects repeatedly while those who embezzled funds face no consequences. He insisted that for the government to remain credible, there must be a logical and consistent approach to justice. He even went as far as to suggest that the lack of progress might be a form of “judicial sabotage.”

In response, Yassine Fall assured the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Justice is fully committed to ensuring that those at fault are held accountable. While acknowledging structural obstacles, she promised that her team is working toward delivering results that will satisfy the people of Sénégal.

A call for public accountability

Despite these assurances, Sonko remained firm. He clarified that while renegotiating contracts and building new facilities is important, it does not replace the need to identify those responsible for past failures. He asserted that this accountability must apply to all public officials, including former and current ministers and directors general.

The Prime Minister demanded a status report on every pending file, stating that these dossiers do not belong to individual magistrates or high-ranking officials, but to the citizens. He warned that he would take a firmer stance in the future to ensure that the justice system serves the public interest rather than protecting the status quo. He concluded by stressing that these legal matters are the property of all Sénégal citizens, not the private domain of the judiciary or the executive.