During a recent interministerial council focused on state infrastructure and assets, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko unveiled the comprehensive findings of an audit examining numerous public projects and strategic holdings. Addressing government members, the head of the executive painted a disturbing picture of how infrastructure and public land have been managed. He cited unfinished projects, underutilized equipment, and state-owned properties allegedly sold under highly questionable circumstances. Furthermore, Sonko voiced his profound dissatisfaction with the judicial handling of certain cases linked to the management of public resources.

At the meeting, Sonko revealed that the inventory conducted by the Prime Minister’s services identified 245 infrastructure projects and strategic assets across Senegal that are currently either blocked, incomplete, or severely under-exploited. The collective cost of these projects, according to the presented data, exceeds 5,000 billion FCfa. The Prime Minister emphasized that this staggering sum is nearly equivalent to Senegal’s entire annual national budget. He detailed various types of affected infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, ports, stadiums, high schools, administrative buildings, and crucial cold storage facilities.

Challenges highlighted by the infrastructure audit

Commenting on the sheer scale of the funds committed, the head of government declared that the audit report’s findings were truly “beyond comprehension.” He expressed his shock at the amount of resources tied up in infrastructure, some of which have remained unused for several years. According to Sonko, some observers even equate this immobilized sum to the national public debt itself.

The audit presented to the Prime Minister’s office also revealed 30 fully completed projects that have yet to be put into service. Among these, 25 are reportedly facing significant operational blockages, representing a financial immobilization of 279 billion FCfa. The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the Port of Dakhonga, along with several fishing docks and cold storage facilities, which he stated required substantial investments but have failed to deliver the anticipated benefits to the populace.

Moreover, the report addressed the status of projects still under construction. The figures indicated that out of 94 infrastructures currently being built, 62 are virtually at a standstill. The financial commitment to these stalled projects totals over 5,227 billion FCfa. Ousmane Sonko particularly stressed the case of the Sandiara high school, noting that construction began in 2014 and remains unfinished. The Prime Minister condemned this prolonged timeline, deeming it unacceptable for an educational infrastructure project.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the interministerial council also scrutinized the state’s land and real estate holdings. Data presented showed 97 identified properties, primarily located in the Dakar region, with an estimated value of 132 billion FCfa. Sonko alleged that several strategic state-owned land parcels were transferred under the previous administration without adherence to proper procedures or parliamentary authorization where required.

He cited the example of the former gendarmerie headquarters site, which he claimed was initially transferred to a private operator before being reclaimed by the state. The Prime Minister stated that some land parcels, valued between 10 and 15 billion FCfa, were allegedly sold for less than one billion FCfa. The government asserts that several assets deemed to have been improperly removed from the national patrimony have since been recovered.

The judicial aspect of these dossiers formed another critical point of discussion. Addressing Justice Minister Yassine Fall, Ousmane Sonko publicly voiced his bewilderment regarding the apparent lack of prosecutions in cases linked to these financial losses. He admitted to harboring doubts about the effectiveness of the accountability process, stating that he sometimes questions “if it is even worth continuing.”

The Prime Minister then asserted that “the system remains intact,” suggesting that certain officials implicated in the management of public funds continue to evade judicial scrutiny. He argued that it is difficult to ask citizens to make sacrifices when those allegedly responsible for embezzlement or mismanagement are not being prosecuted. Highly critical, he spoke of what he termed “judicial sabotage,” implicitly accusing some magistrates of deliberately delaying the examination of sensitive cases. He reiterated his view that “these cases do not belong to the magistrates” but rather “to the Senegalese people,” hinting at a stronger stance in the coming days.

In response to these criticisms, Justice Minister Yassine Fall assured that all individuals found culpable would be held accountable for their actions. However, this response did not fully alleviate the Prime Minister’s concerns, who emphasized the urgent need to expedite procedures and clearly define responsibilities.

Establishment of a monitoring committee

To ensure the implementation of decisions, Ousmane Sonko announced the immediate creation of a monitoring committee, directly under the authority of the Prime Minister’s office and which he will personally chair. This body will be tasked with continuing the inventory of stalled projects, identifying those responsible, and facilitating the search for financing solutions. The government also plans to revalue certain public assets through public-private partnerships or by leveraging these assets as financial instruments via the Fonsis.

By the conclusion of the interministerial council, the Prime Minister issued eleven directives aimed at addressing the financial, legal, and technical blockages identified. Among these measures are two definitive orientations. The first mandates the Minister, Secretary-General of the Government, in coordination with the Minister of Infrastructure, sectoral ministries, and relevant parties, to continue the inventory to establish an exhaustive list of projects and infrastructures to be commissioned, completed, or repurposed and valued. The second provides for the establishment of an inclusive committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, responsible for continuing the inventory work and ensuring the execution of the adopted due diligence.

The remaining directives primarily concern the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects. Ousmane Sonko instructed all ministers to now ensure better consideration of technical aspects, particularly connections to water, electricity, and telecommunication networks, as well as the adequate equipping of infrastructures. He also stressed the necessity of defining sustainable operational, management, and maintenance models to guarantee the longevity of public investments.