Forum Civil: Calls For Enquêtes Véhicules Assemblée ONRAC Sénégal

• Forum Civil has requested that investigations be expanded to include the purchase of National Assembly vehicles and the management of the ONRAC vehicle fleet.
• This request follows the ratification of resolutions for six investigative commissions on August 20, 2026.
• The existing commissions are scrutinizing diverse areas, including land, fishing, state property sales, and a 650 million euro financial arrangement.
• Forum Civil, the Senegalese section of Transparency International, seeks examination without alleging specific wrongdoing in the new proposed areas.
• A previous audit in April 2026 by the National Assembly's Accounting and Control Commission concluded that the vehicle acquisition procedure for the 15th legislature was respected.

The Forum Civil views the establishment of these investigative commissions as a significant advancement in the control of public management, underscoring a commitment to greater transparence gestion publique Sénégal.

The Forum Civil, a prominent anti-corruption organization and the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International, has formally called for an expansion of ongoing public investigations. In a declaration signed by board member Abdoulaye Diallo, the organization specifically urged for two additional areas of inquiry: the acquisition of vehicles by the National Assembly and the management of the vehicle fleet allocated to the Office national de recouvrement des avoirs criminels (ONRAC). This request comes shortly after the ratification of resolutions for six distinct investigative commissions on August 20, 2026, signaling a broader push for enhanced oversight of public funds and assets across various sectors in Senegal.

While the Forum Civil Sénégal investigations do not pinpoint any specific irregularities within these two new proposed areas, the organization emphasizes the importance of subjecting these operations to thorough examination. The call for an Assemblée nationale véhicules audit and an ONRAC parc automobile enquête reflects a commitment to ensuring comprehensive transparency in public spending. This initiative aligns with the Forum Civil's broader objective of fostering greater accountability in the administration of state resources, particularly concerning significant public procurements and asset utilization.

The Forum Civil's latest appeal builds upon an already extensive framework of national investigations sanctioned by the authorities. The six commissions, whose resolutions were ratified recently, are tasked with scrutinizing a diverse array of public management issues. These include complex land and public maritime domain cases in key regions such as Dakar, Thiès, and Saint-Louis, alongside an audit of contracts related to the "Un étudiant, un ordinateur" program dating back to 2017. Furthermore, the sale of state-owned properties to private individuals is under review, highlighting a focus on the integrity of public asset transfers.

In the fishing sector, the commissions are mandated to examine licenses, their issuance, and renewal processes since the 2015 Fishing Code came into effect, as well as matters concerning vessel gauging and associated fines. Fiscal transparency is also a major theme, with investigations into tax rebates, transactions, debt waivers, and exemptions granted since 2014, specifically citing cases involving ADDAX, Sabodala Gold Operations, and Barrick Mining Corporation. A dedicated commission will also delve into a "Total Return Swap" financial arrangement, valued at 650 million euros, to assess its terms, rates, potential guarantees, inherent risks, and its impact on the national public debt, including the notable absence of prior communication to the National Assembly regarding this significant financial undertaking.

The Forum Civil views the establishment of these investigative commissions as a significant advancement in the control of public management, underscoring a commitment to greater transparence gestion publique Sénégal. The organization has commended the live retransmission of the commissions' proceedings, advocating for this level of openness to be consistently applied to all matters related to parliamentary institutions. This stance reinforces the broader objective of combating corruption Sénégal marchés publics and ensuring accountability in government operations.

Regarding the specific request for an Assemblée nationale véhicules audit, it is noteworthy that a separate procedure was conducted in April 2026 by the National Assembly's Accounting and Control Commission. This prior investigation focused on the purchase of vehicles for the 15th legislature and concluded that the acquisition procedure had been respected, following presentations by Questeur Aïcha Touré and Sadibou Niassy, the coordinator of the Assembly's Public Procurement Unit. Despite this previous finding, the Forum Civil's current call suggests a desire for a fresh, comprehensive review, extending to the Office national de recouvrement des avoirs criminels and its vehicle fleet, to further solidify public trust and ensure rigorous oversight of all public assets.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising public entities or companies involved in public procurement in Senegal should anticipate heightened scrutiny and potential investigations into public asset acquisition and management, particularly concerning vehicle fleets. This development signals an increased demand for transparency and robust compliance frameworks to mitigate risks associated with public spending and asset recovery.

Source: Original reporting via Senego