Ousmane Sonko proposes new bill to regulate special state funds, continuing institutional struggle with Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly, has submitted a new bill to regulate special state funds, reigniting an institutional struggle with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This move comes just one week after the Constitutional Council rejected a previous bill on the same subject, deeming it an infringement on the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. Sonko had previously announced his intention to prepare a new text after the Constitutional Council's decision. He has consistently called for greater transparency in the management of special funds from the Presidency and the Prime Minister's Office, citing an operation of over 3 billion CFA francs at the Prime Minister's Office that he claims has not been reconciled with official budget documents. The issue directly relates to President Faye's 2024 election promise to abolish political funds and replace them with better-regulated special funds. An earlier version of the bill, which sought to limit the use of these credits to defense, internal and external security, and intelligence activities, faced opposition from the government, whose proposed amendments were rejected by Pastef deputies.
