The controversial distribution of 108 million CFA francs to “ex-detainees” by the Ministry of Solidarity and Family raises questions within the National Assembly of Senegal. The deputy of the “Takku Wallu Senegaal” group, Abdou Mbow, officially requested clarification from the Minister of Finance and Budget, Cheikh Diba, through a written question, reports the Le Quotidien website.
Abdou Mbow points out irregularities surrounding credit procedures, particularly those put in place by the government through advance decrees. In a statement released yesterday, the elected official underlines that a ministerial decree dated July 30, 2024 had established the organizational rules for a committee responsible for providing assistance to ex-detainees. However, the next day, July 31, 2024, an advance decree allowed access to a credit of 848,070,280 CFA francs.
The MP questions the use of these funds and questions the minister on the veracity of the allocation of this sum to compensate the victims of pre-electoral violence. Mbour expresses his doubts, stressing that the census of beneficiaries was not complete at the time of decision-making, which calls into question the urgency justified by the decree in advance.
In addition, Abdou Mbow encourages Minister Diba to consider article 23 of the Organic Law relating to Finance Laws (LOLF) 2020-07, which specifies that “additional credits may be opened by decree in advance in the event of emergency or necessity of national interest”. He recalls that the parliamentary majority has already moved forward on similar decrees in advance during budgetary discussions without the content being detailed.
Furthermore, the MP also questions the minister on the financing of the legislative elections, denouncing an alleged use of an advance decree without ratification in accordance with article 23 of the LOLF. According to him, this would constitute a departure from legal procedure.
These concerns, relayed by the Le Quotidien website, illustrate a growing unease regarding the transparent management of public funds and the use of advance decrees in the context of state affairs.
