By Biran Gaye
Senegal’s prime minister on Thursday denounced the mismanagement of 600 billion of public finance by the former regime led by Macky Sall.
Ousmane Sonko made this revelation while giving an update on the assessment of the state of the country’s finances at a press conference. “600 billion that should not have been spent until January 1, but that the outgoing regime spent before we came to power, that is to say before 2024, on the 2023 financial year, which is extremely serious,” he denounced.
“It is important to insist on this point because the manipulation wanted to make the Senegalese believe that there was a problem with overfinancing and that it was our regime that used these funds, which is totally false. It was used and unjustifiably for more than 300 and some billions by the former regime. And as we speak, we find no trace of the use of these funds.”
The Head of Government declared that the findings of the audits highlight waste in spending, both “in their choice and quality as well as in their effectiveness and impact,”
“This situation has led to slippages in the management of public finances, encouraged by poor governance, manifested in particular by corruption, bribery, embezzlement and the hoarding of public and private property in all areas,” Prime Minister Sonko added.
Mr Sonko said that the partners had accepted that Senegal could go in terms of fundraising, beyond what was annually authorized, in anticipation of the start of the first 4 months of the 2024 financial year, which, in any case, were uncertain financial years in view of the looming elections.
These audits of state institutions will be followed by a launch of a national transformation agenda on October 7, aimed at operationalizing a program intended to transform the country’s economy under Senegal 2025 framework.
