The Pastef-Les Patriotes parliamentary group, led by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, has initiated a formal investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement and execution of contracts under the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ program. The inquiry targets potential violations of public procurement laws that may have resulted in substantial financial losses for the state.

The commission will examine eight years of contracts—from 2017 to 2025—totaling nearly 48 billion FCFA, with annual expenditures averaging 6 billion FCFA. Sonko, who previously served as Prime Minister, is now spearheading the effort from his position as Speaker of the National Assembly, demanding full transparency in the handling of public funds.

Key allegations: A 2 billion FCFA shadow fund and missing documentation

Investigators have uncovered multiple red flags, including the transfer of a 2 billion FCFA guarantee fund to Ecobank without clear documentation on its origin, management, or intended use. Additionally, records show 13 bank accounts linked to the program, despite official documents citing only three. Nearly 865 million FCFA in undocumented transactions were dispersed across these accounts, while approximately 800 unsold and defective laptops remain in storage at Cheikh Anta Diop University, purchased using public funds.

Sonko’s team alleges systematic violations of Senegal’s public procurement code, including:

• Failure to conduct competitive bidding for contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA
• Non-compliance with pre-approval requirements from the Directorate of Public Procurement (DCMP)
• Absence of program registration in the ministry’s procurement plan
• Failure to secure mandatory ministerial approval for contracts over 300 million FCFA

In 2023 alone, a payment of 1.45 billion FCFA was made for 7,055 laptops to an intermediary company not directly contracted by the state. Shockingly, no valid contract for this transaction was ever located, despite repeated requests to the Directorate of Higher Education Financing (DFEES) and the program’s former manager. The state is reportedly facing a second payment obligation for the same deliverables.

Who faces scrutiny? A sweeping investigation into institutional failures

The probe will scrutinize all officials and entities involved in the program’s implementation since 2017, including:

• Ministries of Higher Education, Finance, and Innovation
• Directorates General of Higher Education and Public Procurement (DCMP)
• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP)
• Public universities, financial institutions, and private contractors

Sonko and his allies argue that these irregularities represent more than isolated errors—they reflect a pattern of institutional dysfunction with severe economic and social consequences. The commission aims to establish accountability and recover misappropriated funds while preventing future violations of Senegal’s procurement laws.