In a rare and politically charged move, Senegal’s National Assembly has voted to authorise the prosecution of five former government ministers accused of embezzling funds meant to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ex-ministers—who all served under former President Macky Sall—will now face a special commission of the High Court of Justice, which will determine whether a formal trial should proceed. This is only the third time in the country’s history that the special court has been called upon, following previous sessions in 1963 and 2005.
Following more than nine hours of heated debate on Thursday, lawmakers agreed to initiate proceedings against:
- Amadou Mansour Faye, former Minister of Community Development, accused of diverting approximately $4.5 million
- Aissatou Sophie Gladima, former Minister of Mines
- Moustapha Diop, former Minister of Industrial Development
- Salimata Diop Dieng, former Minister for Women
- Ismaila Madior Fall, former Justice Minister
According to a report presented to parliament, the ministers allegedly misappropriated various sums from a multi-million dollar emergency fund established during the height of the pandemic in 2020–2021.
The move comes as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected earlier this year, pledges to root out corruption and restore transparency in public office. His administration has taken an assertive stance against members of the previous regime, sparking backlash from the opposition who have labelled the investigation a “witch hunt.”
Adding to the controversy, the Assembly last week lifted parliamentary immunity from two opposition MPs also implicated in the scandal.
Supporters of the current government argue that the investigation is a necessary step toward accountability and justice, while critics warn that it may set a precedent for politically motivated prosecutions.
Senegal’s High Court of Justice, composed of members of parliament and legal professionals, is the only judicial body with the authority to try sitting or former ministers. The court’s reactivation underscores the gravity of the accusations and the changing tide in Senegalese politics.
As the nation watches closely, the outcome of the probe could mark a turning point in Senegal’s long-standing battle against high-level corruption.
