Senegal: ministers’ asset declaration failures challenge government transparency
Asset declarations are once again proving to be a critical measure of integrity for Senegal’s executive branch. Reports from Dakar indicate that several cabinet members have failed to meet this statutory obligation, even though patrimonial transparency was a cornerstone commitment of the Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko administration since their assumption of power in April 2024. This issue extends beyond mere administrative formality, directly impacting the consistency of the official narrative.
The Senegalese legal framework, established by the 2014 law creating the National Anti-Fraud and Corruption Office (OFNAC), mandates a specific range of high-ranking public officials to submit a detailed inventory of their assets upon taking office and again upon concluding their duties. This requirement applies to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, ministers, heads of institutions, and credit administrators overseeing funds exceeding one billion CFA francs.
Strict legal requirements for asset declarations
The legislation is unequivocal regarding the timeline. Those subject to this rule have a three-month window following their appointment to submit their declaration to OFNAC. Beyond this period, their compliance becomes legally questionable. According to information reported by the Senegalese press, several members of the government, reshuffled in autumn 2024, are currently in violation of these regulations.
This non-compliance is not a trivial matter. The law stipulates that in cases of non-submission, OFNAC must issue a formal notice to the defaulting official. Should the non-response persist, the institution can initiate legal proceedings. Failure to declare assets can lead to sanctions, including suspension of salary and, if applicable, criminal prosecution. While this mechanism is designed to be a deterrent, its actual effectiveness has frequently been questioned over time.
A political test for the ruling administration
The stakes are particularly high given that the fight against illicit enrichment and the demand for accountability were central to Pastef’s victorious campaign. The new government has launched several investigations against former dignitaries of the Macky Sall regime, specifically leveraging the tools of OFNAC and the financial prosecutor’s office. Consequently, any detected non-compliance within the current government could significantly undermine the moral authority claimed by the authorities.
OFNAC, now led by a magistrate following its restructuring, theoretically possesses the necessary powers to activate these procedures. The crucial question remains the political will to see these actions through, especially considering that successive reports from the institution have consistently highlighted a low compliance rate among those subject to the law, even under previous administrations. The last public report noted hundreds of expected declarations, a significant portion of which were never submitted.
Asset transparency: a regional imperative
The debate unfolding in Senegal is part of a broader West African trend. Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, and Burkina Faso have all adopted similar measures in recent years, driven by ECOWAS and African Union protocols on corruption prevention. However, the performance of member states remains uneven, with practical implementation often hampered by administrative resistance and a lack of genuine public access to these declarations.
In Dakar, various civil society groups, including the Civil Forum (the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International), have long advocated for the full public disclosure of asset declarations, mirroring practices in some European democracies. This demand, however, conflicts with the principle of confidentiality enshrined in Senegalese law, which restricts access solely to authorized bodies and imposes criminal penalties for any unauthorized disclosure.
Nevertheless, the current situation presents the government with a straightforward challenge. Either the affected ministers promptly rectify their status, allowing the incident to subside, or OFNAC activates its procedures, initiating a politically costly period for an administration that has championed exemplary conduct as a core principle. The credibility of the anti-corruption agenda hinges on such critical signals. The implicated ministers now face formal notice from the institution.
