Senegal civil society seeks clarification from PM Al Aminou Lo
Civil society leaders in Senegal are demanding immediate clarification from Al Aminou Lo following statements regarding alleged irregularities discovered inside the Primature under the gestion of Ousmane Sonko.
Babacar Ba, president of the Forum du Justiciable, criticized the executive branch for relying on insinuations rather than presenting verified documentation to the public. The controversy erupted as the government defended its handling of the Amending Finance Law, known locally as the LFR.
Challenging the Primature Transparency Claims
The dispute centers on public remarks made by Al Aminou Lo regarding administrative acts uncovered at the Primature. According to Babacar Ba, the administration cannot claim to have discovered abnormal practices under Ousmane Sonko without disclosing the specific nature of those acts.
Ba challenged the head of government for maintaining ambiguity. He argued that the strategy of dropping hints undermines the executive’s stated commitment to public accountability and good governance.
The Primature defended its record by pointing to official parliamentary documents. During a press conference held alongside cabinet members including Cheikh Diba, Bassirou Sarr, Bakary Sarr, and Moustapha Guirassy, Al Aminou Lo dismissed public criticism surrounding the Amending Finance Law as unverified noise. The prime minister urged citizens to review the thirty-page briefing delivered to deputies rather than rely on unverified claims.
Legislative Pushback From Pastef
Shortly after the government briefing, Pastef lawmaker Amadou Ba responded publicly to the prime minister. Amadou Ba argued that the head of government should focus on core governance issues rather than challenging political opponents to turn press briefings into formal debates.
Concurrently, fellow Pastef figure El Malick Ndiaye addressed the prime minister’s appeal for dialogue. Ndiaye questioned the coherence of seeking dialogue after making remarks he viewed as disrespectful toward parliamentary members. The dispute carries substantial weight given that Pastef holds 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, placing the governing majority in a position to closely scrutinize executive policy.
The economic backdrop adds urgency to the political standoff. During his General Policy Declaration, Al Aminou Lo characterized Senegal’s economy as a “petite économie ouverte”, noting ongoing structural adjustments.
Primature Defends Finance Law as Critics Demand Transparency
While the Primature insists that the Amending Finance Law protects the nation from severe economic shocks and stabilizes future development, critics maintain that accusations of past administrative mismanagement require transparent proof.