The Managing Director of Senegal’s State Property Management and Exploitation Company (SOGEPA), Elimane Pouye, has pushed back against assertions that former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was the sole beneficiary of political funds, calling the claim unsubstantiated.
In a sharply worded opinion piece, Pouye argues that the debate over public funds must be grounded in verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric. He points out that Sonko is not the first or only head of government to have accessed such resources, urging a closer look at successive national budgets instead of relying on selective interpretations.
According to Pouye, the structure and allocation of political funds within the Prime Minister’s Office budget have remained largely consistent across recent fiscal years—2023, 2024, and 2025. Any variations, he notes, stem primarily from institutional reorganizations rather than fundamental changes in funding mechanisms.
The SOGEPA chief highlights what he sees as the real novelty in the discussion: Sonko’s public acknowledgment of the existence of such funds within the Prime Minister’s Office and his disclosure of their approximate amounts and general usage. This transparency, Pouye argues, should shift the conversation toward accountability and responsible financial stewardship.
Pouye raises critical questions: If these funds were already part of prior budgets, how were they utilized by former premiers? Were allocations directed toward specific programs, or did they serve broader administrative purposes? He stresses that the focus should be on transparency and evidence-based discourse, not on speculative or politically motivated accusations.
The debate, in his view, should also recognize the positions already articulated by parliamentary leaders and the President. A constructive, fact-driven exchange, he insists, is essential for strengthening Senegal’s democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.
In closing, Pouye defends the vibrancy of Senegal’s political dialogue while cautioning against attempts to revive outdated divisions or distract from the core issue—ensuring that public funds are managed with integrity and in the public interest.
