Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf asserts that Ousmane Sonko’s recent visits to religious centers directly contradict the actual content of the legislation presented to Parliament. He strongly emphasizes, “What he is proposing in the National Assembly bears no resemblance to the narratives he shared with our religious leaders,” condemning this as a “profound moral issue.”
A fresh chapter has unfolded in the ongoing debate surrounding the reform of special credits, a key topic in current African politics. Dr. El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, who serves as the Minister of Petroleum and the Deputy General Supervisor of the KIIRAAY / Les Patriotes Républicains coalition, has vociferously criticized the National Assembly’s proposed bill concerning these funds. He has accused the parliamentary majority, led by its president, Ousmane Sonko, of employing “double language” when addressing the nation’s religious communities.
For Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf, Ousmane Sonko’s recent outreach to religious cities stands in stark contrast to the true substance of the legislative text brought before Parliament. “The provisions he advocates in the National Assembly are entirely disconnected from what he conveyed to our spiritual guides,” Diouf declared, highlighting what he perceives as a “deep-seated moral problem.” The minister specifically cites Article 2 of the parliamentary proposal, which restricts special credits “exclusively” to defense, security, and intelligence operations. Furthermore, he points to Article 5, which explicitly disallows expenditures of a social nature. He labels this wording as “anti-social and anti-religious credits,” arguing it effectively closes the door on any form of solidarity with vulnerable populations across Senegal.
Conversely, Dr. Diouf commended the Executive’s proposed amendments, which seek to reintroduce provisions for “the preservation of social order” and uphold “humanitarian, mutual aid, and solidarity values.” His conclusion on this critical aspect of West Africa news is unequivocal: “Where the Assembly opts for exclusion, the Executive champions inclusion.” Finally, Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf challenged Ousmane Sonko, reminding him that he himself utilized political funds without reservation during his tenure as Prime Minister. He urged Sonko to fully accept the implications of his own legislative text: “Acknowledge your discriminatory treatment of our religious communities in the allocation of political funds! The Republic! Nothing but the Republic!”
