Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – A communiqué from the Ministry of Family and Solidarity, meant to underscore government transparency in assisting victims of the 2024 pre-electoral violence, has instead raised fresh questions after inconsistencies emerged in the figures published.
The ministry’s statement, released overnight Wednesday to Thursday on its social media platforms, recounted a meeting held on 21 August between Minister Maimouna Dièye and representatives of families of deceased victims.
The session, according to the ministry, aimed to review progress on state assistance and announce new measures to speed up compensation.
The document reported that 1,931 beneficiaries each received 500,000 CFA francs, amounting to a total of 1,125,850,000 CFA francs. But a simple calculation reveals a glaring discrepancy: the total should be 965,500,000 CFA francs, not the 1.125 billion claimed.
This leaves a difference of 160,350,000 CFA francs unexplained – a gap that casts doubt on the government’s declared commitment to transparency.
While the ministry also cited 127 injured persons receiving medical care and noted that six bereaved families had each been allocated 10 million CFA francs, the financial inconsistency overshadowed these announcements.
The communiqué further indicated that the state would close its assistance program for former detainees by the end of September 2025, with 30 August set as the final deadline for submissions.
In the case of families of deceased victims, the government has promised to simplify procedures by releasing the 10 million CFA francs upfront, with documentation to follow later.
Required documents include proof of application for inheritance judgment, national ID copies, death and cause-of-death certificates, a signed family agreement, and a power of attorney designating three representatives to collect the funds.
Minister Dièye emphasized the government’s “firm will to honor its commitments and accompany families with dignity and respect,” while highlighting forthcoming psychological support for victims and their relatives.
She reaffirmed that both President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko remain committed to supporting all victims of the 2024 crisis.
However, with over 160 million CFA francs unaccounted for in the ministry’s figures, critics warn that such discrepancies undermine the very credibility of the government’s pledge of transparency and solidarity.
