Thierno Alassane Sall: Ousmane Sonko ASER Note Reveals Irregularities

• Thierno Alassane Sall has publicly disclosed a confidential note from August 26, 2024, which he claims implicates Ousmane Sonko, currently President of the National Assembly, in the ASER financial scandal.
• The note, signed by then-Energy Minister Birame Souleye Diop, allegedly indicates that Sonko, as Prime Minister, was aware of the presumed diversion of funds from a 37 billion FCFA advance for a rural electrification project.
• Spanish bank Santander, a financial partner, had also alerted Senegalese authorities in September 2024 regarding suspicious use of project funds, leading to a suspension of disbursements.
• The Pôle Judiciaire Financier in Senegal is investigating the ASER affair, with Thierno Alassane Sall suggesting the note strengthens potential charges of "association de malfaiteurs."
• Ousmane Sonko, who previously denied any "scandale ASER," was later dismissed as Prime Minister in May 2026 due to political disagreements.

Thierno Alassane Sall contends that this document directly refutes the former Prime Minister's public assertions and could bolster the serious charge of 'association de malfaiteurs' currently under review by the Pôle Judiciaire Financier.

A significant financial controversy has re-emerged in Senegal, centered around the ASER project, following recent revelations by Thierno Alassane Sall. The prominent politician and former Minister of Energy publicly disclosed what he describes as a confidential note, dated August 26, 2024, which he asserts implicates Ousmane Sonko, currently President of the National Assembly, in alleged financial irregularities. This disclosure directly challenges Sonko's previous public statements, where he emphatically declared there was "zero scandale ASER" and commended the management of Jean Michel Sène, the agency's director general.

Thierno Alassane Sall, who leads the République des Valeurs party, shared this document on social media, presenting it as "irrefutable proof of a state lie." The note bears the signature of Birame Souleye Diop, who held the position of Minister of Energy at the time of its creation. According to Sall, this confidential communication suggests that the then-Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, had been informed about the alleged diversion of a portion of an advance payment related to the project, long before a subsequent alert from a financial institution.

The core of the "affaire ASER" revolves around a rural electrification program entrusted to the company AEE Power. For this critical infrastructure initiative, an initial advance of 37 billion FCFA was disbursed in June 2024. However, the project soon drew scrutiny from its financial partner, the Spanish bank Santander.

In September 2024, Santander formally alerted Senegalese authorities to suspicions concerning the utilization of a segment of these funds. This critical "Santander alerte ASER" prompted an immediate suspension of further disbursements for the project. The confidential note revealed by Thierno Alassane Sall further alleges that a fraction of this substantial advance was diverted to pay bonuses within the Société nationale d’assainissement (SONAC), rather than being used for its intended purpose within the ASER project.

The allegations surrounding the "détournement fonds ASER" have triggered significant legal action both domestically and internationally. In Spain, a formal complaint was lodged in January 2025, leading to the opening of judicial proceedings on February 24, 2026. Concurrently in Senegal, Thierno Alassane Sall took the initiative to seize the Pôle Judiciaire Financier (PJF) in October 2025, initiating a domestic investigation into the matter.

The Pôle Judiciaire Financier is actively examining the case, with particular attention to the potential qualification of "association de malfaiteurs" (criminal association). Thierno Alassane Sall himself underwent an extensive audition by the PJF following his complaint. He maintains that the confidential note he disclosed significantly strengthens the case for such a serious charge, directly contradicting Ousmane Sonko's earlier denials and suggesting a deliberate cover-up.

Thierno Alassane Sall has not minced words in his accusations, directly challenging Ousmane Sonko's integrity regarding the "scandale ASER Sénégal." Sall contends that Sonko, as the then-Prime Minister, deliberately ignored the financial alert and fostered an "omerta," or code of silence, around the dossier. He publicly posed the pointed question: "Pour couvrir qui?" (To cover whom?), implying a broader network of complicity.

This ongoing "Ousmane Sonko affaire ASER" unfolds against a backdrop of political shifts. Ousmane Sonko was ultimately dismissed from his role as Prime Minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on May 22, 2026. This dismissal, attributed to disagreements between the two former allies, adds another layer of complexity to the high-stakes legal and political battle surrounding the ASER project and the allegations of financial impropriety.

Compliance officers and legal counsel should closely monitor the ongoing investigation by the Pôle Judiciaire Financier into the ASER affair, particularly regarding the alleged diversion of public funds and potential charges of 'association de malfaiteurs' against high-ranking officials. This case highlights the heightened scrutiny on public procurement and financial transparency in Senegal, necessitating robust internal controls and due diligence for entities involved in public sector projects.

Source: Original reporting via senenews