Senegal’s national assembly has voted to mandate a special court to investigate five former ministers on corruption allegations.
These five individuals served under former President Macky Sall, whose administration is now under scrutiny by the current President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The former ministers are accused of misappropriating funds from a Covid-19 pandemic relief fund established in 2020-21. Senegal’s opposition has denounced the case as a politically motivated “witchhunt.”
After over nine hours of debate in the assembly, former ministers Amadou Mansour Faye (community development), Aissatou Sophie Gladima (mines), Moustapha Diop (industrial development), Salimata Diop (women’s affairs), and Ismaila Madior Fall (justice) were ordered to be investigated.
According to a national assembly report, Faye is accused of diverting approximately $4.5 million, with the others accused of diverting smaller amounts.
They will face a special commission of the high court of justice, which will determine whether their case will proceed to trial.
Such proceedings are uncommon in Senegal, requiring authorization from lawmakers for cases against former ministers. The special court has only convened twice before, in 2005 and 1963.
The assembly had previously voted last Friday to remove immunity from prosecution for two opposition MPs also implicated in the allegations.
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