Senegal Summons Former President Macky Sall Over Financial…

Senegal plans to summon former President Macky Sall to court due to significant financial irregularities revealed by an independent audit. Sall, who denies the allegations, may face serious legal consequences amid a broader effort by the current government to investigate corruption linked to his administration.

The Senegalese government has announced plans to summon former President Macky Sall to court following the disclosure of significant irregularities in the national treasury’s financial records during his administration. An independent audit report has revealed serious discrepancies, raising the public debt and deficit figures much higher than those previously reported by Sall’s administration, which governed from 2012 to 2024.

Macky Sall, who has been residing in Morocco since leaving office, has dismissed the audit findings, asserting that they stem from political motivations rather than factual inaccuracies. Government spokesman Moustapha Sarre indicated that Sall could be implicated as a potential leader of a criminal organization responsible for severe mismanagement of public funds. He stated, “Inevitably he will face justice. He is the person chiefly responsible for the extremely serious acts that were committed.”

The report from the audit office, released on February 12, highlights a staggering 2023 budget deficit of 12.3 percent, more than double the initially reported figure of 4.9 percent during Sall’s term. The newly elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has committed to moving away from the policies of his predecessor. Furthermore, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has vowed to pursue inquiries into the alleged widespread corruption that occurred under Sall’s administration.

In recent months, several former government officials have faced charges, including a lawmaker closely linked to Sall, who was recently arrested on allegations of fraud and money laundering. The legal ramifications for Sall may be significant as the current administration seeks to address the financial misconduct of the previous government.

The decision to summon former President Macky Sall to court is rooted in an independent audit revealing severe financial mismanagement during his tenure. Sall has contested the findings as politically motivated, but government officials assert his accountability for the budgeting discrepancies. With several former officials already charged, the current administration aims to eradicate corruption linked to Sall’s leadership.

Original Source: dailypost.ng