Senegal’s asset declaration challenge: ministers under scrutiny

The imperative of asset declaration is once again serving as a crucial test of credibility for the Senegalese executive branch. Reports from Dakar indicate that several government ministers are currently in breach of this legal obligation, despite the fact that transparent asset disclosure stands as a cornerstone commitment championed by the Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko administration since their ascension to power in April 2024. This issue transcends mere administrative formality, striking at the very heart of the official discourse’s consistency.

Senegal’s robust framework, established by the 2014 law creating the National Office for the Fight Against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC), mandates a specific range of high-ranking public officials to submit a detailed inventory of their assets upon assuming office and again upon the conclusion of their duties. This requirement applies to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, heads of institutions, and credit administrators overseeing funds exceeding one billion CFA francs.

Strict legal obligations for public officials

The legislative text is unequivocal regarding timelines. Designated individuals are granted a three-month window following their appointment to submit their declaration to OFNAC. Beyond this period, their compliance becomes legally questionable. According to information disseminated by the Senegalese press, several members of the government, following a reshuffle in autumn 2024, are now reported to be outside these stipulated guidelines.

This failure to comply is far from trivial. The law stipulates that in instances of non-submission, OFNAC must issue a formal notice to the defaulting party. Should this silence persist, the institution is empowered to initiate legal proceedings, and the absence of an asset declaration exposes the individual to sanctions, including salary suspension and, where appropriate, criminal prosecution. While designed to be a deterrent, the actual effectiveness of this mechanism has frequently been debated.

A critical political test for the ruling administration

The stakes are particularly high given that the fight against illicit enrichment and the promotion of accountability were central tenets of Pastef’s victorious campaign. The new leadership has initiated several legal actions against former dignitaries of the Macky Sall regime, specifically leveraging the instruments of OFNAC and the financial prosecutor’s office. Consequently, any observed non-compliance within the current government would significantly undermine the moral authority claimed by the authorities.

OFNAC, which has been led by a magistrate since its restructuring, theoretically possesses the necessary powers to activate these procedures. The remaining question revolves around the political will to see them through, especially in a context where successive institutional reports have consistently highlighted low compliance rates among mandated individuals, even under previous administrations. The last public report indicated hundreds of anticipated declarations, a substantial portion of which were never submitted.

Asset transparency: a regional imperative

The ongoing debate in Senegal mirrors a broader West African trend. Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, and Burkina Faso have all, in recent years, adopted comparable mechanisms, influenced by ECOWAS and African Union protocols aimed at preventing corruption. However, the practical application across member states remains inconsistent, often encountering administrative resistance and a lack of genuine public disclosure of declarations.

In Dakar, various civil society voices, including Forum Civil, the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International, have long advocated for the full publication of these declarations, drawing inspiration from models practiced in certain 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 dilemma. Either the implicated 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 positioned exemplarity as a core characteristic. The credibility of the anti-corruption agenda hinges on how this particular signal is addressed. Ministers who have been identified for non-compliance now face a formal notice from the institution.

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