Keypoints:
- Five ex-ministers accused of fund misuse
- Parliamentary vote may lead to trial
- Opposition calls it a political witchhunt
SENEGAL’S parliament on Thursday began debating whether to approve criminal proceedings against several former ministers accused of misappropriating a portion of the country’s massive Covid-19 relief fund, intensifying a high-stakes anti-corruption drive launched by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The push follows a damning 2022 audit report and forms part of President Faye’s pledge to root out graft in the wake of Macky Sall’s 12-year rule. The CFA1 trillion ($1.7bn) pandemic fund, established in 2020, was meant to reinforce Senegal’s health system and provide economic lifelines to households and businesses.
Ex-ministers under scrutiny
Among the accused are former industrial development minister Moustapha Diop and Salimata Diop Dieng, the ex-minister of women’s affairs. Both served during Sall’s presidency and were elected to the National Assembly after he left office. They deny any wrongdoing.
The list also includes Amadou Mansour Faye — the former president’s brother-in-law — and two other former ministers, Aissatou Sophie Gladima and Ismaila Madior Fall.
The allegations stem from a December 2022 report by the Court of Auditors that flagged multiple irregularities, including CFA2.7bn in overpriced rice procurement and CFA42 million spent on sanitiser for vulnerable households.
Immunity lifted, vote looms
Last Friday, parliament lifted immunity from prosecution for Moustapha Diop and Salimata Diop, clearing the way for the current debate. In Senegal, former ministers can only face trial with legislative approval, making such proceedings rare and politically sensitive.
A three-fifths majority of the 165-member National Assembly is required to move forward with each resolution. If approved, the accused will be subject to questioning by the investigative committee of the High Court of Justice, which holds the authority to determine if trials will proceed. The court’s decisions cannot be appealed.
Political motives questioned
President Faye, elected in 2024 on a wave of reformist sentiment, has made anti-corruption a central pillar of his administration. His allies argue that pursuing justice over pandemic-related funds is crucial for restoring public trust.
But the opposition has lashed out, labelling the process a politically motivated ‘witchhunt’ against former Sall loyalists. ‘This is not justice — it’s retribution,’ one opposition MP said during the debate.
Despite the backlash, government figures say the probe has already exposed critical failings in the management of emergency resources. The investigation has expanded to include high-profile cultural figures, broadcasters, designers and top civil servants.
Next steps in the balance
If the draft resolutions are passed, those implicated will appear before the High Court’s investigative committee. Any decision to commit them for trial would mark a landmark moment in Senegal’s judicial history, potentially setting a new precedent for accountability at the highest levels of government.
