Among the six parliamentary inquiry commissions slated for discussion during the extraordinary session convened on Monday, August 10, 2026, by the National Assembly, one stands out: the commission investigating irregularities in the procurement and execution of contracts under the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ program, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MESRI) since 2017. The total financial commitment for this program is estimated at 48 billion CFA francs. A pressing question arises: does this inquiry indirectly target former minister Abdourahmane Diouf?
An investigation rooted in months of scrutiny
This issue is not new. As early as November 8, 2025, the then-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly highlighted irregularities in the management of higher education programs, specifically implicating the administration of the ministry under Abdourahmane Diouf’s leadership. Diouf responded by urging lawmakers to establish a parliamentary inquiry commission to thoroughly investigate these matters, including the construction of five university campuses, while acknowledging shared responsibility alongside the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Higher Education has undergone significant turnover, with three ministers in two years: Abdourahmane Diouf, followed by Daouda Ngom, and now Boubacar Camara since June 1, 2026. The inquiry commission, however, focuses on events dating back to 2017—long before the current administration—and theoretically encompasses the work of multiple ministers across different periods.
A politically charged backdrop
The timing of this inquiry coincides with heightened political tensions between Sonko and Diouf. Abdourahmane Diouf, once a leader of the Awalé party and a former ally of the ruling coalition, joined Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains, the new party backed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, thereby severing ties with Pastef and its leader Ousmane Sonko. This political shift has led some observers to speculate that the inquiry may be a veiled attempt to settle scores rather than a genuine accountability measure.
The official decree convening the extraordinary session does not explicitly mention Abdourahmane Diouf by name. Instead, the inquiry covers the entire 2017–2026 period, spanning nearly a decade of program management that could implicate multiple ministers and technical directors of the MESRI, with no individuals singled out in the formal text.
While the inquiry’s timing aligns with Diouf’s departure from the presidential camp and his alignment with Kiiraay, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that Ousmane Sonko is specifically targeting his former government colleague through this parliamentary process. The true scope of responsibilities will only become clear once the inquiry commission begins its work and releases its findings on the 48 billion CFA franc program.
