Since January 30, 2024, the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has in his hands, the 2022 activity report of the Higher Authority for State Control and the Fight against Corruption (ASCE-LC). Part of which is devoted to auditing the army.
This part of the report concerns precisely the “control of the financial and accounting management of the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs”. For the moment, the said report has not yet been made public, but our colleague Sirainfo.com, who apparently had access to it, lifts a corner of the veil. The colleague specifies that “the period covered by the audit goes from 2016 to 2021”. This report was eagerly awaited by Burkinabè people curious to know how the funds allocated to the Grande Muette are managed. Especially since most military spending is systematically classified as defense secret. According to the report, auditors reviewed 241 contracts with a total value of 482,048,128,759 FCFA, awarded by the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs over the period in question. Among these markets, 14 were the subject of open calls for tender, 58 of internal competition and 169 direct agreements.
In terms of irregularities, the report points to a combination of incompatible functions (authorizing officer, DAF, financial controller carried out by the same person). There is also the non-liquidation of late payment penalties of 1,632,254,055 FCFA; the manual of procedures relating to competition for the acquisition of sensitive goods linked to defense secrecy, which has not been validated.
For armaments, the Ministry of Defense awarded 14 contracts between 2016 and 2022, for an amount of 83,507,507,233 FCFA. Of these 14 contracts, “08 contracts amounting to 75,106,677,520 FCFA, or a rate of 89.94%, were awarded to several companies belonging to the same natural person,” notes the report, without revealing the identity of the person. The report also notes that “the management of fuel and lubricants is characterized by poor accounting (…) and periodic inventories are not carried out”.
Concerning the irregularities noted, the Sira Info colleague says nothing about the possible recommendations made by the ASCE-LC, nor about possible follow-ups. However, many Burkinabè people wonder what will happen to this report. Will we kick the Grande Muette anthill? Nothing is less sure. Especially in this period when the military institution is in great demand in the fight against armed terrorist groups and the reconquest of the integrity of the national territory. At the same time, the fight against corruption is initiated by the highest authorities of the country. A dilemma which constitutes a Chinese headache for the head of state and the judicial authorities.
Aly Konate
