The Mamelles 40 villas case: Abdou Karim Fofana rejects the accusations and denounces a political trial

The land and real estate scandal surrounding the Touba Almadies complex (the 40 villas of Les Mamelles) was a key issue during the hearing of Abdou Karim Fofana, the former Director General of the State-owned Building Assets Management Agency (AGPBE), before the National Assembly. In this case, the members of parliament sought to shed light on what they described as opaque aspects of the acquisition, management, and allocation of these high-end residences.

According to revelations made during the discussions, this real estate project, intended for 40 villas in the Mamelles district, was initially the subject of a colossal purchase contract valued at 10 billion CFA francs (the overall estimated value of which may have reached much higher levels considering the leases), conducted under the supervision of the State Property Directorate. However, during inspections carried out by the technical services of the AGPBE (General Agency for the Promotion of Real Estate), it was found that the villas were neither finished nor ready for occupancy. The administration at the time therefore refused to grant provisional acceptance of these defective structures.

The lack of transparency in the allocation process and the issue of decrees

The MPs pointed to the lack of transparency surrounding the allocation of these prestigious residences to various personalities, magistrates, businessmen and authorities (with monthly rents varying according to the beneficiaries to preferential amounts, like the magistrate Papa Omar Sakho or the former minister Pape Samba Diop).

Faced with accusations of irregularity raised by the parliamentary representation, which denounces the absence of presidential approval decrees for certain leases during this period, the former DG defended himself by arguing that the management of these residential leases fell within the prerogatives of the agency according to the texts in force, and that the application scales corresponded to the state's land grids.

"A political action," according to the former minister.

Nevertheless, the opposition of the deputies persisted, describing these allocations as unfair "favors" to the detriment of public assets, while demanding the publication of all contracts and the revision of these enjoyment regimes.

To these claims, Abdou Karim Fofana replied that it was a biased interpretation of the law by MPs engaged in "political action and an attempt to expose him on social media by not allowing him to develop his remarks and give more explanations under the pretext that time is limited."