Wednesday October 2, 2024
+221773916180 +221773212955
BudgIT Senegal
For Immediate Release
BudgIT Senegal Calls for Transparency on Alleged Misappropriation of Public Funds and Budget Manipulation (2019–2024)
Senegal is currently experiencing a challenging economic situation. The budget execution report for the second quarter of 2024 indicates a decrease of 800 billion CFA in state revenues, a rise in public spending, and a public debt reaching 83%, surpassing the WAEMU community’s 70% threshold.
An IMF delegation, during a working visit with the Ministry of Finance and Budget, the Ministry of the Economy, and sectoral ministries, confirmed this economic crisis through highly unfavourable economic forecasts. They suggested the abolition of subsidies, which would significantly impact Senegalese households. This economic downturn was further highlighted during a press conference held by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the Minister for the Economy on Thursday, September 26, 2024. They openly accused the administration of Macky Sall’s former regime of falsifying budget data for 2023 and 2024. The Minister of the Economy, Mr Sarr, revealed that the budget deficit from 2019 to 2023 was 10.4% of GDP instead of the announced 5.5%, and the public debt was 76.3%, rather than the reported 65.9%.
The Prime Minister claims that the budget deficit for the current year is insincere and that our public debt is 83% of GDP, far higher than the EU’s 70% threshold of GDP. The Prime Minister also stated that there has been a ‘massive misappropriation of public funds.’ These are serious allegations that, if true, would indicate a violation of fundamental budgetary principles, including transparency in public finances, budgetary sincerity, accountability norms and standards, the offence of false use of forgeries, and high treason of authority towards the citizens of Senegal.
In light of these allegations, BudgIT Senegal requests the Prime Minister to make this data public and provide evidence to support the allegations. Additionally, we call on Former President Macky Sall, who has been implicated, to clarify the Prime Minister’s allegations to the Senegalese people. Furthermore, all civil society organisations are urged to demand an immediate inquiry to clarify the situation and for the prompt release of the audit results, particularly since the Prime Minister claims to have already provided the audit results to the Financial Partners.
Signed
Elhadj Amadou Samb
Country Lead
BudgIT Senegal