Whistleblower protection: 10% reward, anonymity and legal safeguards detailed by Moussa Sarr

At the opening of an international seminar on whistleblowers this Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Dakar, the Minister of Justice, Moussa Sarr, outlined the progress and safeguards of Senegalese law. Between guaranteed anonymity, protection against reprisals, and a reward of 10% of recovered funds, the State is strengthening its arsenal in the fight against corruption. The Minister of Justice, however, emphasized the absolute necessity of preventing denunciation by preserving the presumption of innocence and the rights of the defense.

Senegal wants to better protect citizens who report corruption, fraud, and the embezzlement of public funds. This was the key message delivered by the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, Moussa Sarr, at the opening of an international seminar on whistleblowers in Dakar on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, he emphasized that reporting wrongdoing is an act of courage and responsibility that should no longer expose its perpetrator to vulnerability or reprisals.

To regulate this process, Senegal adopted Law No. 2025-14 of September 4, 2025, concerning the status and protection of whistleblowers, a text that is part of the ongoing effort to promote transparency and accountability. The law provides for two reporting channels: an internal channel via a designated contact person within each organization, or direct referral to the National Office for the Fight Against Corruption (OFNAC).

A financial reward of 10% of the amounts recovered

Citizens who follow the legal procedure benefit from strict protection against any administrative, professional, or judicial retaliation. The system goes further by providing a financial reward equivalent to 10% of the recovered funds when the report leads to a final conviction.

However, the scope of application primarily targets individuals who became aware of the facts in the course of their professional activities, their assistants, their immediate family, as well as front men reporting illicit assets. Mr. Moussa Sarr indicated that the potential extension of this protection to all citizens outside of a professional context was among the key issues discussed with the seminar participants.

The Minister of Justice also emphasized the speed and confidentiality of the investigations. The internal whistleblower has two months to inform the whistleblower of the follow-up actions, while the OFNAC (National Office for the Fight Against Fraud and Corruption) has three months. Upon expiry of these deadlines, or in the event of an imminent risk of destruction of evidence, the whistleblower is authorized to make the case public.

Whistleblowing serves the public interest, denunciation fuels resentment.

Anonymity is a key guarantee of the legislation, as the disclosure of the whistleblower's identity is strictly prohibited. However, the minister emphasized that the protection of the whistleblower must in no way come at the expense of the accused, whose presumption of innocence and rights of defense remain sacrosanct. Until the report has been substantiated, the identity of the person concerned can only be disclosed to the justice system.

Mr. Moussa Sarr was keen to establish a clear line between civic duty and settling scores: "Whistleblowing serves the general interest; denunciation serves a grudge or a particular interest," the Minister of Justice insisted.

The work of the seminar, which brings together mediators, ombudsmen, and prosecutors from the Francophone world following the Tirana meetings of June 2025, will culminate in the "Dakar Declaration." This document will serve as a guide for drafting the implementing decrees of the 2025 law, thus ensuring a balance between the fight against corruption and respect for the rule of law.