Aminata Touré challenges Ousmane Sonko's justification of political funds

Touré criticized Sonko's justification for using these funds to refurbish the administrative building and acquire vehicles, stating that he had previously opposed the administration purchasing vehicles. She argued that these expenditures, particularly for the administrative building, constitute a "diversion of objectives" from funds historically intended for peace efforts in Casamance, calling it a "serious attack on the primary principles of good governance." She also questioned the justification for political funds in 2025 and 2026.

Ousmane Sonko, in his defense, presented his management as transparent, detailing that the political funds envelope amounted to 1.7 billion CFA francs annually. He clarified that the Prime Minister's Office had separate funds from the Presidency, citing 2.090 billion CFA francs for 2025 and 1.870 billion for 2026. Sonko specified that a budget increase requested for 2025 included 940.560 million CFA francs for vehicle acquisition, 87 million for an audit of the ten-year flood management program, 100 million for activities commemorating the Thiaroye massacre, and 300 million for bringing the administrative building up to standard.

He asserted that these expenses met specific state operational needs, explaining that he found only unserviceable vehicles upon his arrival at the Prime Minister's Office and that the