Air Senegal, long seen as a symbol of national pride, is going through a zone of unprecedented turbulence. According to an explosive report revealed by The Observerthe internal audit initiated by the new Managing Director, Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye, highlighted chaotic management and fraudulent practices, threatening both the image and financial health of the company.
Fraudulent practices that hamper flight
Since taking office last August, Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye has shown a firm desire to turn around Air Senegal. To do this, he established an internal audit committee responsible for scrutinizing the smallest corners of management. Result ? Damning report reveals major irregularities, including poor management of the program Staff Travel. This benefit reserved for employees and their beneficiaries would have been misused for profit.
The Observer underlines that tickets, initially intended for staff, were sold to external third parties, causing significant financial losses. The culprits? Ungentlemanly agents, one of whom, sales manager, has already been fired. But that’s not all: officials allegedly authorized massive purchases of business class tickets on other companies, to the detriment of Air Senegal’s finances.
The General Directorate, indignant, promised drastic measures: “These sums will be recovered, and those responsible brought to justice. »
The Hajj 2024 fiasco: a financial pit
Another scandal highlighted by the audit concerns the organization of Hajj 2024. This project, supposed to generate substantial income, resulted in losses estimated at several billion CFA francs.
According to The Observerthe auditors denounce disastrous management and unjustified mission costs. “The per diems were collected for extended periods even though the flights had been shortened,” reports the newspaper.
Faced with this disaster, additional investigations are underway to identify those truly responsible.
Chaos in Abidjan: abuses and dismissals
The situation in Abidjan illustrates another aspect of the crisis. According to The Observerthe station manager was singled out for questionable pricing practices, such as the application of unauthorized reduced fares or illegal cancellations of penalties. These abuses, described as Goshow in airline jargon, caused pricing disruptions and financial losses.
Consequence: the immediate dismissal of the Abidjan station manager, a decision which is part of a series of disciplinary sanctions initiated by management.
A future on hold
For Tidiane Ndiaye, these revelations mark only the beginning of a fierce fight to clean up the finances and restore the image of Air Senegal. But the challenges are significant. As noted The Observerthe recovery of the company will not only involve disciplinary measures. “It will also be necessary to establish impeccable governance ethics and strengthen control mechanisms. »
This report, a real shock for the national company, reminds us that transparency and rigor are not options, but absolute necessities to hope for better days.
