Macodou Sène: Dément Toute Interpellation de Sonko, Nie Fonds Spéciaux

• Former DAGE Macodou Sène denied being questioned by Ousmane Sonko about 3 billion FCFA in special funds.
• Sène stated he did not manage political or special funds and claimed such funds did not exist under his administration.
• Ousmane Sonko defended the Primature's funds by citing a 2004 decree from the Abdoulaye Wade era, mentioning the "Programme de gestion de la paix en Casamance."
• Minister Abdourahmane Diouf reported 1.77 billion FCFA quarterly for the Prime Minister, totaling 14.16 billion FCFA in political funds under Sonko.
• Aly Ngouille Ndiaye claimed Sonko was the first Prime Minister to receive special funds and noted the initial allocation was fully used, requiring an extension.

Macodou Sène dément toute interpellation de Sonko et nie les fonds spéciaux, specifically refuting claims that he advised the former Prime Minister to consult Cheikh Diba, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, whose name has surfaced in connection with the disputed funds.

A significant financial controversy involving 3 billion FCFA at the Primature has drawn public attention, with the former Director of General Administration and Equipment (DAGE), Macodou Sène, offering his account of the events. Appearing on TFM, Sène's statements, subsequently reported by dakaractu, directly addressed his alleged role in the management of these funds. He emphatically stated that Ousmane Sonko, the former Prime Minister, never directly questioned him regarding this specific financial allocation, declaring, "Sonko ne m’a jamais interpellé !"

Furthermore, Macodou Sène dément toute interpellation de Sonko et nie les fonds spéciaux, specifically refuting claims that he advised the former Prime Minister to consult Cheikh Diba, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, whose name has surfaced in connection with the disputed funds. Sène maintained that special funds were not within his purview of management. He asserted that he neither administered political funds nor special funds, adding a categorical denial of their existence under his watch by stating, "il n’y en avait pas."

The former Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has provided his own explanation for the Primature's financial operations, asserting that the office possessed its own funds. Sonko's defense relies on a 2004 decree enacted during the presidency of Abdoulaye Wade. Among the mechanisms managed by his services, he specifically cited the "Programme de gestion de la paix en Casamance" as an example of the devices through which these funds operated.

This explanation forms a crucial part of the broader debate surrounding the existence and operational mechanisms of these resources. The substantial amounts mentioned by various parties have significantly amplified the scale and public interest in the controversy, moving beyond mere procedural questions to encompass the very nature of financial allocations to the Prime Minister's office.

The financial figures associated with the Primature's funds have been a point of contention and public discussion. Minister Abdourahmane Diouf previously indicated that the Prime Minister was allocated 1.77 billion FCFA per quarter, leading to a total of 14.16 billion FCFA cited for political funds under Sonko's tenure. Thierno Bocoum further contextualized this amount, estimating that this quarterly envelope translated to 19.4 million FCFA daily, a sum he suggested could finance the construction of 944 classrooms, highlighting the tangible impact of such expenditures.

Questions of political responsibility have also emerged. Aly Ngouille Ndiaye asserted that Ousmane Sonko was the first Prime Minister to benefit from special funds, claiming that his predecessors did not have access to such allocations. Ndiaye also pointed out the ambiguity surrounding the periodicity of the 1.7 billion FCFA envelope, noting that some sources suggested it was a quarterly sum while others referred to it as an annual allocation. He further revealed that the initial allocation was fully expended, necessitating a request from Sonko for an additional disbursement.

The ongoing controversy now centers on identifying the precise budgetary line or financial mechanism corresponding to the 3 billion FCFA, as well as determining which authority was responsible for its management. It also raises critical questions about the regularity of these allocations, their actual utilization, and the level of transparency expected for public resources, especially when their magnitude is compared against pressing public needs like educational infrastructure.

Source: Original reporting via dakaractu