The contentious matter involving the Senegalese Agency for Rural Electrification (ASER) and the Spanish firm AEE Power has resurfaced at the heart of political discourse in Dakar. Thierno Alassane Sall, president of La République des valeurs and a National Assembly deputy, openly accuses the governing Pastef party of employing a double standard regarding this rural electrification agreement. The contract has become a symbol of the friction between the Senegalese executive and a segment of the political class. The former Minister of Energy explicitly uses the term “duplicity,” a word rarely heard in the local parliamentary arena.
A rural electrification contract becomes a state concern
The agreement between ASER and AEE Power encompasses an extensive initiative to electrify numerous Senegalese villages, aiming to connect thousands of communities to the national grid. For several months, the precise execution of the project, the disbursed funds, and the actual deliveries have been subjects of public contention. This dispute escalated politically when key figures within Pastef, prior to their ascent to power, had presented the dossier as a prime example of poor governance under the previous administration.
Now in positions of authority, these same individuals are tasked with managing the contractual legacy and upholding the Senegalese state’s commitments to its Spanish partner. It is precisely this shift in stance that Thierno Alassane Sall seeks to highlight. He contends that the current majority’s position fundamentally contradicts the views expressed during the electoral campaign and in the initial weeks of the new government.
Thierno alassane sall’s strong critique of pastef
Known for his uncompromising stance on energy issues, the former minister asserts that the party, led by Ousmane Sonko and championed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, can no longer hide behind an opposition posture. He points to a clear inconsistency between their pledges for systematic audits of supposedly opaque contracts and the cautious approach now adopted concerning AEE Power. The deputy suggests that this inconsistent handling of inherited files could undermine the credibility of the “rupture” narrative championed since March 2024.
Thierno Alassane Sall also questions the official communication surrounding the dispute. According to him, the persistent ambiguities regarding a potential termination timeline, applicable penalties, and the status of payments already made fuel public suspicion. The opposition figure demands full transparency before the national representatives, arguing that the Assembly is the rightful body to resolve a disagreement that involves public funds and the international reputation of the Senegalese state.
An issue of sovereignty and contractual reliability
Beyond the immediate political sparring, the ASER/AEE Power case raises fundamental questions for Senegal’s energy sector. Rural electrification remains a top priority, requiring tens of billions of CFA francs, crucial for bridging territorial disparities in electricity access. Any abrupt contract termination risks exposing the state to costly international arbitration proceedings, echoing other extractive industry cases heard by the ICSID in recent years.
For the technical and financial partners monitoring the nation’s trajectory, how the new authorities manage this dispute will serve as a critical litmus test. A transparent resolution would enhance Senegal’s sovereign reputation among donors and foreign enterprises. Conversely, a management approach perceived as politically driven could inflate the cost of future financing and complicate the attractiveness of public energy markets.
Thierno Alassane Sall’s intervention comes as the executive pursues an accountability strategy targeting officials from the former majority. By highlighting Pastef’s alleged contradictions concerning AEE Power, the former minister effectively shifts the focus of the debate towards the current administration’s practices. The subsequent developments will depend on the documents that the relevant National Assembly committee agrees to make public and on ASER’s official positions in the coming weeks. The deputy continues to advocate for complete transparency on this sensitive matter.
