The debate over political funds in Senegal has dominated headlines for weeks. When Ousmane Sonko disclosed this discretionary fund during a parliamentary session, it ignited a political firestorm. Yet this practice predates his tenure—every Senegalese prime minister has accessed such resources, though rarely discussed publicly.
Political funds in Senegal have long been managed by the presidency with considerable discretion. Until recently, the prime minister’s annual allocation hovered around 1.7 billion CFA francs, compared to the president’s 11 billion. This system, long operating in the shadows, had never faced serious scrutiny—until Sonko brought it into the light.
May 2026: A turning point
During a parliamentary session, Ousmane Sonko stunned observers by confirming the existence of a 1.77 billion CFA franc fund at the Prime Minister’s Office—despite previously denying its existence. Rather than advocating for its abolition, he framed it as essential for sensitive state missions and called for stricter oversight. He cited Western models where the prime minister, not the president, controls such funds under parliamentary supervision.
Sonko’s push for transparency wasn’t spontaneous. His party, PASTEF, had criticized the lack of oversight on these funds since 2014, and reform had been part of its platform since 2019.
His public disagreement with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye over fund oversight escalated quickly. By challenging the president’s authority in front of lawmakers, Sonko forced a choice: either grant the Prime Minister’s Office greater autonomy, or reassert presidential control. The president’s response was decisive—Sonko was dismissed, reshaping the political alliance born from the 2024 transition.
Further developments emerged in late July 2026, when the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Abdourahmane Diouf, revealed Sonko had requested additional funding after depleting his annual allocation. The request’s fate remains unclear, but civil society voices, including Moundiaye Cissé of NGO 3D, are now demanding transparency reports on fund usage for the past two years.