Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko chaired an interministerial council yesterday, focusing on state infrastructure and patrimony. During this critical meeting, he presented the audit’s findings on numerous public projects and strategic assets. Addressing government members, the head of the executive painted a concerning picture of infrastructure and public land management, detailing unfinished projects, underutilized equipment, and state-owned properties allegedly transferred under questionable circumstances. He also voiced his discontent with the judicial handling of cases related to public resource management.

At the meeting, Ousmane Sonko revealed that an inventory conducted by the Prime Minister’s office identified 245 infrastructure projects and strategic assets across the nation that are currently stalled, incomplete, or underutilized. The total estimated cost for these projects, according to the presented data, exceeds 5,000 billion FCfa. The Prime Minister emphasized that this sum is nearly equivalent to Senegal’s entire annual budget. He listed various types of affected infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, ports, stadiums, high schools, administrative buildings, and cold storage facilities.

Challenges revealed by the infrastructure audit

Commenting on the staggering amounts involved, the head of government remarked that “the facts defy comprehension” after the audit report was presented. He expressed his shock at the level of resources immobilized in infrastructure projects, some of which have remained unused for several years. He noted that some observers equate this amount to the national public debt.

The audit presented to the Prime Minister’s office also highlighted 30 projects that are fully completed but have yet to be commissioned. Among these, 25 are reportedly facing significant impediments, representing a financial immobilization of 279 billion FCfa. The Prime Minister cited the Port of Dakhonga, along with several fishing docks and cold storage facilities, as examples of investments that, in his view, have consumed substantial funds without delivering the anticipated benefits to the populace.

Furthermore, the report addressed the status of ongoing construction projects. According to the figures released, out of 94 infrastructure projects currently underway, 62 are virtually at a standstill. The financial commitment for these projects is estimated at more than 5,227 billion FCfa. Ousmane Sonko specifically highlighted the case of the Sandiara high school, stating that construction began in 2014 and remains unfinished. The Prime Minister condemned this prolonged timeline, deeming it unacceptable for the completion of an educational facility.

Beyond infrastructure, the interministerial council also scrutinized the state’s land and real estate assets. Data presented indicated 97 properties, primarily in the Dakar region, with an estimated value of 132 billion FCfa. Ousmane Sonko asserted that several strategic state-owned land parcels were allegedly transferred under the previous administration without adhering to required procedures or obtaining parliamentary authorization when necessary.

In this context, he referenced the former site of the gendarmerie headquarters, which he claimed was transferred to a private operator before being reclaimed by the state. The Prime Minister stated that some land parcels, valued between 10 and 15 billion FCfa, were reportedly sold for less than one billion FCfa. The government indicates that several assets previously considered to have left the national patrimony have since been recovered.

The judicial aspect of the matter was another central point of discussion. Addressing Justice Minister Yassine Fall, Ousmane Sonko publicly expressed his bewilderment at the apparent lack of prosecutions in cases involving these financial losses. He voiced doubts about the effectiveness of the accountability process, stating that he sometimes questions “if it is even worth continuing.”

The Prime Minister then declared that “the system remains intact,” suggesting that certain officials implicated in public fund management continue to avoid judicial scrutiny. In his view, it is challenging to ask citizens for sacrifices when alleged perpetrators of embezzlement or mismanagement are not being prosecuted. Critically, he alluded to what he termed “judicial sabotage,” implicitly accusing some magistrates of delaying the review of sensitive cases. He reiterated his belief that “the cases do not belong to the magistrates” but “to the Senegalese people,” adding that he might “raise his voice” in the coming days.

In response to these criticisms, Justice Minister Yassine Fall assured that those found culpable would be held accountable for their actions. However, this response did not fully alleviate the Prime Minister’s concerns, who stressed the urgency of accelerating procedures and clarifying responsibilities.

Establishment of a monitoring committee

To ensure the follow-up of decisions, Ousmane Sonko announced the immediate creation of a monitoring committee, directly under the authority of the Prime Minister’s office and which he will personally chair. This body will be tasked with continuing the inventory of stalled projects, identifying those responsible, and facilitating the search for financing solutions. The government also plans to revalorize certain public assets through public-private partnerships or to leverage these assets as a financial tool via the Fonsis.

At the conclusion of the interministerial council, the Prime Minister issued eleven directives aimed at addressing the identified financial, legal, and technical blockages. Among these measures are two deemed definitive. The first instructs the Minister, Secretary-General of the Government, in coordination with the Minister of Infrastructure, sectoral ministries, and relevant parties, to continue the inventory to establish an exhaustive list of projects and infrastructure to be commissioned, completed, or repurposed and valorized. The second mandates the establishment of an inclusive committee, presided over by the Prime Minister, responsible for continuing the inventory work and ensuring the execution of agreed-upon diligences.

The remaining directives primarily concern the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects. Ousmane Sonko instructed all ministers to ensure better consideration of technical aspects, particularly connections to water, electricity, and telecommunication networks, as well as adequate equipment for infrastructure. He also emphasized the necessity of defining operational models, sustainable management, and maintenance strategies capable of ensuring the longevity of public investments.