Former President Macky Sall of Senegal is to be summoned to court following an audit that revealed serious discrepancies in treasury records during his administration from 2012 to 2024. The audit indicated a budget deficit significantly larger than previously reported. Sall, dismissing these findings as politically driven, faces potential legal action as several former associates have already been charged with financial misconduct.
Senegal’s authorities have announced plans to summon former President Macky Sall to court due to identified discrepancies in the nation’s treasury records during his governance. An audit conducted by the country’s audit office revealed significant mismanagement of public funds under Sall, who held office from 2012 until 2024.
The independent audit report, released on February 12, invalidated previously reported financial figures, indicating that the national debt and public deficit were grossly underestimated. Specifically, it reported a staggering 12.3 percent budget deficit for 2023, more than double the official figure of 4.9 percent that had been presented during Sall’s tenure.
Currently residing in Morocco since the end of his presidency, Macky Sall has publicly dismissed the audit results as politically motivated. Government spokesperson Moustapha Sarre suggested that Sall may effectively lead a group implicated in criminal misconduct, asserting that legal actions against him are unavoidable.
Successor President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in March 2024, has declared his intention to differentiate his administration from Sall’s controversial leadership. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a persistent critic of Sall, committed to an inquiry into allegations of widespread corruption linked to the former president’s administration.
In recent months, numerous former officials from Sall’s government have faced criminal charges, with one lawmaker, closely associated with Sall, accused of fraud and money laundering, marking a significant turn in Senegal’s political landscape under new leadership.
The situation surrounding former President Macky Sall and the treasury irregularities suggests a growing scrutiny of his administration’s financial practices. With an independent audit raising alarming discrepancies and a commitment from current leaders to investigate corruption, this case underscores the ongoing reform efforts in Senegal’s governance. The legal proceedings against Sall and his associates highlight the implications of political accountability in the recovery of public trust.
Original Source: newscentral.africa