Dakar: Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced on Thursday that his government will launch investigations into what he described as “widespread corruption” during the previous administration of President Macky Sall. Sonko accused the former regime of manipulating public finance figures and engaging in non-transparent practices that contributed to significant debt.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the unbridled debt policy of the previous government led to extensive embezzlement of public funds. He criticized former officials, including ex-Finance Ministers Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo and Mamadou Moustapha Ba, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, and former President Sall, for their roles in allegedly falsifying economic data. Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne confirmed that judicial authorities have begun examining the accusations, which may lead to criminal charges.
The new administration, which came to power on promises of transparency and reform, is under pressure to address public discontent, with Senegal facing high unemployment and an outflow of migrants. The government is set to launch a “national transformation agenda” in October, aimed at addressing the country’s economic challenges and rebuilding investor confidence.