Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – Moustapha Bâ, Senegal’s former Minister of Finance and Budget, passed away on Monday, November 4, in France. The former minister, who had recently faced accusations by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko over alleged manipulation of Senegal’s economic data, succumbed to an illness that reportedly left him in a coma for days. His family members, quoted by the Senegalese daily EnQuête, are now calling for an investigation, describing his death as “mysterious.”

Bâ, who had been in France for both professional engagements and medical treatment, was last seen conscious as he left his hotel to visit a pharmacy. It was on his way there that he experienced a severe health episode, ultimately leading to his untimely death. “It’s true that he had fragile health, but he was fully capable of managing his affairs before this incident,” a close friend told EnQuête. “There was something troubling him recently, and given the circumstances, I believe an investigation is warranted to clarify the reasons behind his passing.”

Bâ had been under scrutiny after Prime Minister Sonko publicly implicated him as one of the individuals responsible for falsifying Senegal’s economic reports, a charge brought to light following an audit by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF). The EnQuête newspaper reported that these allegations weighed heavily on the former minister, who reportedly considered defending himself before ultimately being dissuaded by those around him due to pressure.

The former finance minister’s passing comes at a politically sensitive time, as Senegal navigates a turbulent economic period marked by public criticism of its fiscal policies. Bâ’s role in Senegal’s economic administration made him a high-profile figure, particularly amid the accusations of data manipulation. The controversy had placed him at the center of an ongoing debate on transparency and accountability in Senegal’s governance.

His relatives are now advocating for an official probe to determine the exact circumstances of his death. With Bâ’s health history acknowledged but not deemed severe enough to have led to such a rapid decline, they believe a thorough investigation is necessary.

The death of Moustapha Bâ leaves unresolved questions in the halls of Senegal’s economic oversight and casts a long shadow over the government’s handling of the recent accusations. For the family and supporters of the late finance minister, his passing has ignited fresh calls for transparency—not only to clarify his final days but also to shed light on the broader questions surrounding Senegal’s economic policies and the credibility of its public accounts.