Abdourahmane Diouf scrutinizes state vehicle acquisitions
The ongoing debate surrounding the management of political funds within the Prime Minister’s Office has taken another turn. Abdourahmane Diouf recently addressed remarks made by Ousmane Sonko, who previously stated that political allocations from the Primature were utilized for purchasing vehicles.
The former Minister of Higher Education, Abdourahmane Diouf, shared his own experience, recounting a time when his official vehicle malfunctioned en route to a Sénégal national team match, just days before a government reshuffle. He highlighted the general state of the fleet, remarking on Solo Média that “all the cars were quite dilapidated.”
“Over 900 million for car purchases”
According to Abdourahmane Diouf, during his time as Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko had issued directives specifically prohibiting the acquisition of new vehicles.
Diouf now questions the stark contrast between this earlier stance and the former Prime Minister’s subsequent declarations concerning the procurement of a new fleet. He asserts that in the same year, Sonko reportedly announced the allocation of more than 900 million FCFA for vehicle purchases.
Crucially, Abdourahmane Diouf emphasized that these were not standard government vehicles. “These are Maybachs, luxury cars,” he declared, suggesting their acquisition was financed through political funds.
Questions arise over vehicle type
Furthermore, the minister raised concerns about administrative regulations, noting that state protocols typically do not permit the acquisition of pre-owned assets. He also put forward the possibility that the vehicles in question might be assets recovered by the state.
These recent statements emerge amidst an intense institutional and political discourse surrounding the utilization of political funds and special budgetary allocations.
At this juncture, the assertions regarding the sum exceeding 900 million FCFA, the specific type of vehicles, and their acquisition methods remain within the scope of Abdourahmane Diouf’s declarations. A thorough review of available administrative and financial documentation will be essential to precisely ascertain the conditions surrounding these expenditures.
