Sénégal: minister accuses sonko of hypocrisy over religious funds debate

The recent tour of religious centers by Ousmane Sonko has sparked sharp criticism from Minister Abdourahmane Diouf, who accuses the opposition leader of a troubling disconnect between his public rhetoric and parliamentary actions.

Clash Over Special Funds Reform

The debate over the reform of special funds has taken a dramatic turn after Dr. El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, Deputy General Supervisor of the KIIRAAY / Les Patriotes Républicains coalition and Minister of Petroleum, launched a fierce attack on the parliamentary majority’s proposal. The minister condemned what he describes as a deliberate double standard in the handling of funds allocated to religious institutions.

Diouf pointed to Ousmane Sonko’s recent visits to religious communities, arguing that the opposition leader’s promises to these groups directly contradict the restrictive language found in the draft law submitted to Parliament. “What he proposes in the National Assembly bears no resemblance to what he told our religious leaders,” the minister declared, highlighting what he calls a deep moral contradiction in Sonko’s approach.

Key Points of Contention

Diouf’s criticism centers on two specific articles of the parliamentary proposal:

• Article 2: Restricts special funds to defense, security, and intelligence only.
• Article 5: Explicitly excludes social spending from eligibility.

The minister dismisses these provisions as anti-social and anti-religious, arguing they would effectively block support for vulnerable populations. In contrast, he praises the Executive’s amendments, which reintroduce provisions for social order preservation and humanitarian values such as solidarity and mutual aid.

Concluding his statement, Diouf emphasized the stark contrast between the two approaches: “Where Parliament excludes, the Executive includes.”

Accusations of Selective Fund Allocation

The minister did not stop at policy criticism. He also accused Ousmane Sonko of practicing what he preaches against, particularly in how political funds were previously allocated during Sonko’s tenure as Prime Minister. “Take responsibility for your discrimination against religious institutions in the allocation of political funds!” Diouf declared, invoking the principle of the Republic above all else.