
Former Presidential Official Cheikh Oumar Diagne Reveals Unpaid King Fahd Palace Bill for President Faye's Stay
Cheikh Oumar Diagne, the former director of general services at the Presidency, disclosed that he received a bill exceeding 200 million CFA francs from the King Fahd Palace hotel. This bill was for the multi-day stay of Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his collaborators following his victory in the 2024 presidential election. Diagne stated he refused to pay the invoice, aiming instead to formalize the relationship between the Presidency and the hotel, which he noted is owned by Senegal. He explained that he halted all Presidential activities and seminars at the King Fahd Palace upon his arrival, believing the hotel should host state guests without charge. Diagne consulted the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Finance to clarify the state's obligation regarding the payment. The issue remained unresolved, and Diagne later faced controversy for refusing to cover foreign delegations for the Magal religious event, citing a need for expenditure rationalization and a new management doctrine. He was subsequently dismissed following another controversy concerning Senegalese tirailleurs.



