Yesterday, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko chaired an interministerial council dedicated to state infrastructure and assets. During this meeting, he presented the conclusions of a comprehensive audit on various public projects and strategic assets. Addressing government members, the head of the executive painted a disconcerting picture of infrastructure and public land management, citing uncompleted projects, unexploited equipment, and state-owned properties allegedly transferred under questionable circumstances. He also voiced his dissatisfaction with the judicial handling of certain cases related to public resource management.

During the council, Ousmane Sonko revealed that an inventory conducted by the Prime Minister’s services identified 245 infrastructure projects and strategic assets across the nation that are currently blocked, unfinished, or underutilized. According to the presented data, the total cost of these projects exceeds 5,000 billion FCfa. The Prime Minister emphasized that this staggering sum is nearly equivalent to Senegal’s entire annual budget. He detailed the diverse range of affected infrastructures, including roads, hospitals, ports, stadiums, high schools, administrative buildings, and refrigeration facilities.

Challenges revealed by the infrastructure audit

Commenting on the vast sums involved, the head of government stated that “the facts defy understanding” following the audit report’s presentation. He expressed his shock at the level of resources immobilized in infrastructures, some of which have remained unused for several years. He noted that some observers even equate this amount to the national public debt.

The audit presented to the Primature also highlighted 30 projects that are fully completed but have yet to be commissioned. Among these, 25 face what are described as major blockages, representing a financial immobilization of 279 billion FCfa. The Prime Minister cited the example of the Port of Dakhonga, along with several fishing docks and cold storage facilities, which, he explained, required substantial investments but have not yielded the anticipated benefits for the population.

Furthermore, the report addressed the status of ongoing construction projects. Figures indicate that out of 94 infrastructures currently under construction, 62 are virtually at a standstill. The financial volume committed to these projects is estimated at over 5,227 billion FCfa. Ousmane Sonko specifically highlighted the case of the Sandiara high school, noting that work on this educational institution began in 2014 and remains incomplete. The Prime Minister condemned this protracted timeline, deeming it incompatible with the requirements for delivering educational infrastructure.

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

In this context, he cited 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 lands, valued between 10 and 15 billion FCfa, were reportedly sold for less than one billion FCfa. According to the government, several assets previously considered to have left the national patrimony have since been recovered.

The judicial aspect of the matter formed another crucial point of discussion. Addressing Justice Minister Yassine Fall, Ousmane Sonko publicly expressed his bewilderment at the apparent lack of prosecutions in cases linked to these financial losses. He admitted to harboring doubts about the effectiveness of the accountability process, stating that he sometimes questions “if it’s even worth continuing.”

The Prime Minister then declared that “the system is intact,” suggesting that certain officials involved in public fund management continue to evade judicial scrutiny. He argued that it is challenging to ask citizens for sacrifices when alleged perpetrators of embezzlement or mismanagement have not yet been prosecuted. Highly critical, he spoke of what he termed “judicial sabotage,” implicitly accusing certain magistrates of delaying the examination of sensitive cases. He reiterated his view that “cases do not belong to magistrates” but “to the Senegalese people,” indicating he might “raise his voice” in the coming days.

In response to these criticisms, Justice Minister Yassine Fall affirmed that those found culpable would be held accountable for their actions. However, this response did not entirely allay the Prime Minister’s reservations, who stressed the imperative to expedite procedures and clarify responsibilities.

Establishment of a monitoring committee

To ensure the follow-up of decisions made, Ousmane Sonko announced the immediate establishment of a monitoring committee, directly under the authority of the Primature and which he will personally chair. This body will be tasked with continuing the inventory of blocked projects, identifying responsibilities, and facilitating the search for financing solutions. The government also plans to revalorize certain public assets through public-private partnerships or by leveraging these assets as financial instruments via Fonsis.

At the conclusion of the interministerial council, the Prime Minister issued eleven directives aimed at addressing the financial, legal, and technical blockages identified. Among these measures are two designated as 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 infrastructures to be commissioned, completed, or repurposed and valorized. The second mandates the creation of an inclusive committee, presided over by the Prime Minister, responsible for continuing the inventory work and ensuring the execution of the agreed-upon due diligence.

The remaining directives primarily focus on the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects. Ousmane Sonko urged all ministers to ensure better consideration of technical aspects moving forward, particularly connections to water, electricity, and telecommunication networks, as well as adequate equipment for infrastructures. He also emphasized the necessity of defining sustainable exploitation, management, and maintenance models to ensure the longevity of public investments.