Abdourahmane Diouf scrutinizes state vehicle acquisitions

The ongoing debate surrounding the management of political funds within the Primature has taken a new turn. Abdourahmane Diouf recently voiced his concerns regarding statements made by Ousmane Sonko, who had previously indicated that political funds from the Prime Minister’s office were utilized for acquiring new vehicles.

The minister shared a personal anecdote from his time holding the Higher Education portfolio. He recounted how his official vehicle broke down en route to a Senegal national football team match, just days before a cabinet reshuffle. This incident, he implied, underscored a broader issue.

“All the cars were shaky and unreliable,” he explained during an appearance on Solo Média.

Over 900 million allocated for vehicle purchases

Abdourahmane Diouf claims that Ousmane Sonko, while serving as Prime Minister, had at one point issued directives prohibiting any new vehicle purchases. This alleged instruction creates a stark contrast with Sonko’s later statements regarding the acquisition of new vehicles, prompting Diouf’s current line of questioning.

Diouf asserts that in the same year, Ousmane Sonko reportedly stated that over 900 million FCFA had been mobilized specifically for purchasing cars.

Crucially, Abdourahmane Diouf emphasized that these were not ordinary vehicles. “These are Maybachs, luxury cars,” he declared, suggesting that their acquisition was financed using political funds.

Inquiries into the nature of the vehicles

The minister also pointed out that administrative regulations typically do not permit the state to acquire second-hand goods. He further suggested that the vehicles in question might actually be assets recovered by the state.

These revelations emerge amidst an intense institutional and political debate concerning the utilization of political funds and the allocation of special credits in Senegal.

At this juncture, the claims regarding the sum exceeding 900 million FCFA, the precise model of the vehicles, and their procurement methods are based on statements attributed to Abdourahmane Diouf. These assertions will require careful examination against available administrative and financial documentation to definitively ascertain the conditions under which these purchases were made.