Investigation uncovers fraud in 2025 flood victim aid program
via SeneNews5 min read
A Special Cybersecurity Division investigation has revealed a widespread network of embezzlement and extortion within the 2025 flood victim assistance program. The probe, which has been ongoing for several months, uncovered manipulations of beneficiary lists and illicit deductions from aid intended for flood victims. Individuals not affected by the floods were allegedly fraudulently enrolled to receive public funds, while legitimate beneficiaries faced abusive deductions after receiving their allocations. Birane Guèye, coordinator of the PAPSA and "Yokk Kom Kom" projects in the Thiès and Dakar regions, is cited as a central figure. He is accused of establishing an informal recruitment mechanism for supervisors whose contracts had expired in June 2025, outside of official remuneration frameworks. These field agents were reportedly instructed to enroll acquaintances on beneficiary lists and systematically deduct from financial aid. Of the 200,000 FCFA allocated per affected household, 150,000 FCFA was allegedly demanded, with the remainder shared among executors and coordination chains. Several supervisors, including Khady Faye, Sophie Sylla, Fatimata Samba Diouf, and Malick Diouf, have been arrested and are in police custody, facing charges of embezzlement of public funds, extortion, forgery and use of forged documents, and criminal association. Birane Guèye also faces an aggravated charge of abuse of office. The investigation, supervised by prosecutor Saliou Dicko, is ongoing
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