The Pastef parliamentary group, led by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, has launched a formal investigation into alleged financial mismanagement within the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ initiative. The probe targets potential breaches of public procurement laws that could have resulted in significant financial losses for Senegal.

The commission will examine all eight editions of the program, which has operated since 2017 with an annual budget of approximately 6 billion FCFA, totaling 48 billion FCFA over the years. Sonko, a former Prime Minister and current Assembly leader, has accused officials of bypassing legal procurement procedures, leading to unauthorized expenditures and possible embezzlement.

Uncovering financial irregularities worth billions

Investigators have identified multiple red flags, including the absence of competitive bidding for contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA—a direct violation of Senegal’s public procurement code. Additionally, key control mechanisms were bypassed: the Central Directorate for Public Procurement (DCMP) was not consulted, contracts were not registered in the ministry’s procurement plan, and approvals from the Finance Minister—mandatory for contracts over 300 million FCFA—were never obtained.

One glaring example involves a 1.25 billion FCFA payment made to the state after a court ruled that a contract had been improperly executed. The commission will also scrutinize a 2 billion FCFA guarantee fund deposited with Ecobank, the origins and management of which remain shrouded in secrecy.

Further irregularities include the existence of 13 bank accounts linked to the program, despite official records indicating only three. Nearly 865 million FCFA in unaccounted funds were reportedly distributed across these accounts, while 800 unsold and defective laptops, purchased with public funds, remain unused at Cheikh Anta Diop University.

Key officials under scrutiny

The investigation will focus on ministers, directors, and officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MESRI), as well as the Ministry of Finance. The probe extends to the General Directorate of Higher Education, the Directorate for Financing of Higher Education Institutions (DFEES), the Central Directorate of Public Procurement (DCMP), and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP).

In 2023 alone, 1.45 billion FCFA was transferred to a non-contracting intermediary company for the purchase of 7,055 laptops, with no valid contract ever documented. The state was reportedly forced to pay these funds twice due to administrative failures.

The Pastef group argues that these irregularities not only violate procurement laws but also undermine public trust in government institutions. With potential economic and social repercussions, the commission’s findings could reshape Senegal’s approach to public spending and accountability.