Political funds reform: Sonko pushes for stricter oversight in Senegal

Senegal’s Prime Minister advocates for transparent political fund management

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has reiterated his commitment to strengthening oversight and transparency regarding political funds, emphasizing that proper management of these resources was a key campaign promise made to the Senegalese people. During his address, he acknowledged a fundamental difference of opinion with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye regarding the operational framework for these funds.

The political fund debate resurfaced following an interview President Faye gave on May 2nd at the Palais de la République. In that discussion, the President defended the continuation of these funds while acknowledging the transparency challenges they present. He highlighted critical considerations such as intelligence operations, national security, international solidarity, and the numerous requests made to the state.

Addressing lawmakers, Sonko emphasized that political funds had been a long-standing reform priority for his political movement. “Since 2019, we have been advocating for this debate on political funds. This was not imposed on us; we recognized that all funds must be transparent,” he stated.

The Prime Minister clarified that his goal is not to abolish political funds entirely but to subject them to rigorous oversight mechanisms similar to those used in established democracies. “We are not proposing the elimination of political funds, but they must be controlled, as seen in countries like France,” he explained.

He further stressed the importance of maintaining public trust in how public resources are managed. Referring to funds allocated to the Prime Minister’s office, he disclosed the existence of “1 billion 770 million in political funds,” while emphasizing that “this debate is not personal.” According to him, Senegalese citizens expect these funds to be used solely for public interest, not as a political spoil or tool for personal enrichment.

Sonko also reaffirmed his dedication to the principle of accountability in public finance management. “No taxpayer money should escape scrutiny,” he declared, advocating for governance rooted in transparency and accountability.

Regarding the legislative process, Sonko indicated a preference for an executive-led initiative. He revealed that he had engaged in discussions with the President following the announcement of a draft bill on this issue by Deputy Guy Marius Sagna. The Prime Minister announced his intention to present a proposal to the Council of Ministers if ongoing consultations do not yield swift progress.