The Alliance for the Republic (APR) is raising its voice regarding the public funds distributed to victims and former detainees of political demonstrations. Its spokesperson, Alioune Badara Coulibaly, is directly challenging the former Minister of Women and Solidarity, Maimouna Dièye, whom he is calling on to "expose" her account of the management of these financial resources.

According to the APR official, several amounts have been announced regarding this assistance operation, fueling questions about the actual volume of funds mobilized.

"Public funds were taken to serve the interests of people designated as 'martyrs'. Five billion CFA francs were initially announced; 2.8 billion CFA francs at the Grand Théâtre during the dedicated day and 1.2 billion CFA francs recently, on the occasion of the handover of duties between Maimouna Dièye and her successor at the Ministry of Women and Solidarity. What amount should be retained in the end?", he said.

Alioune Badara Coulibaly believes these disbursements could raise legal and financial questions. He specifically cites possible violations related to the management of public funds and calls on oversight bodies to thoroughly examine the case.

The former ruling party is particularly contesting the allocation of 10 million CFA francs in aid to the families of victims and 500,000 CFA francs to former detainees. According to its spokesperson, compensation for human suffering normally falls under a court decision established after an investigation and determination of responsibility. He believes that these payments, made before any final judicial ruling, raise a question about respect for the principles of the rule of law.

"Economic tribunal or ordinary courts: any competent body deserves to be seized. What citizens committed to good governance are demanding is a rigorous and impartial procedure. President Diomaye Faye and his government will not be able to claim credibility if they limit themselves to declarations of intent without concrete follow-up," reads the text by Alioune Badara Coulibaly.

The APR spokesperson also extended his criticisms to other issues he considers controversial, including funds for the victims of Bakel, the ASER affair, political funds allocated to the Prime Minister's office, and the concession of pier 4 of the Autonomous Port of Dakar.

Believing that these various cases fuel questions about current governance, he calls on the head of state to strengthen control and accountability mechanisms in order to restore citizens' confidence in the management of public affairs.

"The Court of Auditors, the State Inspectorate General, the Financial Prosecutor's Office, and other oversight bodies therefore have a tangled web to unravel. Especially since this case, despite its scale, is part of a series of controversies that emerged after two years of Pastef's rule. The ASER affair, which has been regularly reported, is one example. Added to this are the political funds allocated to the Prime Minister's office—a first since independence—and the trips abroad by private jet. What about the 8 billion CFA francs earmarked for the victims of the Bakel disaster (under the supervision of Maimouna Dièye) and the concession for Pier 4, granted for twenty-five years covering 20% of national maritime traffic without following the Public Procurement Code?" asks Mr. Coulibaly.

He adds: "The governance model put in place before the split at the top of the state gives the impression of a system geared towards capturing resources rather than managing them transparently. The administration and public services sometimes seem to operate more for the benefit of private interests than the general interest. If the head of state truly wishes to correct these abuses, it is up to him to demand rigorous accountability from his staff, in strict compliance with laws, regulations, and human rights. Only then can citizens' trust be restored."