Fadilou Keïta: CDC Convention Juridique Accusations Surface

• Fadilou Keïta, former Director General of the Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC), faced accusations regarding a 100 million CFA franc legal assistance agreement.
• The proposed convention juridique with Me Ciré Clédor Ly's firm reportedly caused internal reservations and lacked a 2026 budget allocation.
• Existing legal agreements with SCP Kébé et Cissé (Me Bamba Cissé) and Houda & Associés already covered similar legal matters.
• President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally terminated Fadilou Keïta's functions via decree n°2026-1604 on September 10, 2026.
• Journalist Madiambal Diagne suggested the 100 million CFA francs represented only a fraction of potential issues, indicating broader scrutiny.

This affair underscores the increased scrutiny on public procurement of legal services in Senegal, particularly for state-owned entities like the Caisse des dépôts et consignations Sénégal.

Fadilou Keïta, the former Director General of the Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC) in Sénégal, faced significant accusations concerning a legal assistance agreement valued at 100 million CFA francs. These allegations surfaced prior to his departure from the state-owned institution and centered on a proposed convention juridique with the law firm of Me Ciré Clédor Ly.

Internal legal departments within the CDC reportedly expressed reservations about the 100 million CFA franc agreement. According to the Facebook page "Gas El Salvador," also known as "Alé Thiam," Mr. Keïta was allegedly determined to finalize this deal "at all costs," even while he was perceived to be in a precarious position, described as being "on an ejectable seat." The same sources indicated that no budgetary allocation for these specific fees was included in the 2026 budget.

Further complicating the matter, the accusations highlighted the existence of two other legal agreements already in force for the CDC. These were with the firm of Me Bamba Cissé, operating through SCP Kébé et Cissé, and with Houda & Associés. Critically, these established legal structures were reportedly already handling the types of cases that the new proposed agreement with Me Ciré Clédor Ly's firm was intended to cover.

Fadilou Keïta's tenure was officially terminated by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye through decree n°2026-1604, signed on September 10, 2026. Following his dismissal, Amadou Lamine Guissé, who had been serving as the secretary general, was appointed as the interim Director General. Senenews reported that Mr. Keïta publicly committed to addressing the accusations and other CDC matters in a press conference after his official handover.

The initial accusations regarding the Fadilou Keïta CDC convention juridique quickly expanded, with journalist Madiambal Diagne suggesting that the 100 million CFA francs represented merely "the tip of the iceberg." This indicates a perception of deeper, underlying issues within the institution's legal engagements. At the time these reports emerged, neither Me Ciré Clédor Ly's firm nor any other individuals named in the allegations had issued an official response.

This affair underscores the increased scrutiny on public procurement of legal services in Senegal, particularly for state-owned entities like the Caisse des dépôts et consignations Sénégal. The interconnectedness of legal and political spheres was further highlighted by a separate report: on April 1, 2025, during an audience with Ousmane Sonko, Me Ciré Clédor Ly reportedly requested the proposal of Me Bamba Cissé as State Judicial Agent and the appointment of Me Ousseynou Fall as Chairman of the Board of Directors, adding another layer to the complex legal landscape surrounding these accusations.

This case highlights the increased scrutiny on public procurement of legal services in Senegal, particularly for state-owned entities. Lawyers advising on government contracts or compliance officers within public institutions should review their internal controls and due diligence processes to mitigate risks of similar accusations and ensure compliance with procurement regulations.

Source: Original reporting via Senenews and other sources