Cheikh Diop: Rapport Un Étudiant Un Ordinateur 250 000 FCFA Déposé

• Cheikh Diop has submitted his report on the 250,000 FCFA student computer allocations to the minister.
• A parliamentary inquiry commission is actively investigating the "Un étudiant, un ordinateur" program.
• Four current and former MESRI officials testified they were not informed or associated with the program through standard channels.
• The ARCOP previously indicated that the procurement procedure used for the computers was unsuitable.
• The parliamentary commission continued its hearings on October 8, 2026.

The testimonies collectively paint a picture of a program that, according to several key officials responsible for procurement and administration, operated outside or on the periphery of established departmental knowledge and regulatory frameworks, raising questions about the MESRI Sénégal procurement processes.

The parliamentary inquiry into the "Un étudiant, un ordinateur" program, which involves an allocation of 250,000 FCFA to students for computer purchases, has seen significant developments. Cheikh Diop, who was appointed as Inspector of Administrative and Financial Affairs in 2026, has completed and submitted his report concerning the student allocations to the minister. Diop indicated that he was unaware of the program's existence until he received the ministerial directive to investigate the 250,000 FCFA allocations.

As part of this ongoing investigation, the parliamentary commission has heard testimony from four current and former officials from the Ministry of Higher Education (MESRI). These auditions are specifically focused on understanding the involvement and role of various MESRI departments in the implementation of the "Un étudiant, un ordinateur" initiative. The commission continued its hearings on Thursday, October 8, 2026, as it delves deeper into the program's execution and oversight.

Key testimonies from procurement officials have highlighted significant procedural concerns surrounding the "Un étudiant, un ordinateur" program. Mountaga Dia, who previously served as the coordinator of the Procurement Unit, stated that he was neither informed about nor involved in the program during his tenure in that role. He recounted first learning about the initiative during a budget programming meeting, though he later became associated with the program in 2025.

Similarly, Abdou Kadri Diatta, who chairs the Procurement Commission, affirmed that his commission was not formally engaged with the program. Diatta explicitly stated that the "Un étudiant, un ordinateur" program was not included in the public procurement plan, which consequently meant it did not fall under the purview of his commission's standard operational procedures. These statements align with observations made by the ARCOP (Autorité de Régulation de la Commande Publique), whose inquiry cell coordinator presented findings on October 5, suggesting that the chosen procurement method for acquiring the equipment was inappropriate for a computer market.

Further insights into the program's administrative oversight came from Saliou Abdoulaye Ngom, the Director of General Administration and Equipment (DAGE), who was appointed in September 2025. Ngom was questioned regarding his responsibilities and connections to various MESRI services. He asserted that he had no knowledge of the program during the period spanning from 2017 to 2025. His awareness of the initiative only began during a budgetary meeting.

Ngom clarified that the DAGE's direct involvement in the program was limited, primarily concerning the allocation designated for the purchase of computers. The testimonies collectively paint a picture of a program that, according to several key officials responsible for procurement and administration, operated outside or on the periphery of established departmental knowledge and regulatory frameworks, raising questions about the MESRI Sénégal procurement processes. The ongoing parliamentary inquiry aims to fully uncover the extent of these irregularities.

This ongoing parliamentary inquiry and the submitted report by Cheikh Diop signal heightened scrutiny on public procurement processes within the Senegalese Ministry of Higher Education. Lawyers advising entities involved in public contracts in Senegal, particularly those with government ministries, should monitor the findings closely for potential precedents regarding compliance failures, accountability, and the enforcement of procurement regulations.

Source: Based on reporting from Senenews.