Political funds controversy: SOGEPA chief counters claims about Ousmane Sonko

Dakar — Elimane Pouye, Managing Director of the State Property Management and Exploitation Company (SOGEPA), has firmly rejected assertions that former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was the only head of government to benefit from political funds.

Transparency in public funds must be evidence-based

In a detailed response published today, Pouye challenged the narrative that has gained traction in recent political discussions. He emphasized that such claims lack factual grounding and called for a more rigorous examination of budgetary records rather than relying on political rhetoric.

According to Pouye, the discussion around these funds should be grounded in verifiable data. He pointed out that the budgets of the Prime Minister’s office for 2023, 2024, and 2025 reveal a consistent structure in how these allocations are categorized. Any perceived differences, he argued, stem from institutional adjustments—such as the merging or separation of ministries—rather than discrepancies in the funds themselves.

Sonko’s disclosure changes the debate

Pouye acknowledged that a key development in this controversy was Sonko’s public acknowledgment of the existence of these political funds, along with details about their allocation and general usage. This admission, he suggested, should shift the focus of the debate toward understanding how these resources were previously utilized by other former Prime Ministers.

Rather than fixating on the frequency or amount of these allocations, Pouye urged a deeper investigation into their actual usage. He stressed that the public deserves clarity on how these funds were managed across different administrations, emphasizing that transparency is the cornerstone of democratic accountability.

A call for constructive dialogue

In his statement, the SOGEPA chief also highlighted the positions taken by both the majority parliamentary bloc and the President of the Republic on this matter. He encouraged political actors to engage in a structured, evidence-based debate to foster democratic resilience and uphold the rule of law.

Pouye concluded by warning against attempts to revive old political divides or derail the discussion from its core objective: ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds.