Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Former Minister of Tourism Mame Mbaye Niang has issued a forceful rebuttal to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s recent claims regarding the management of the Community Agricultural Domains Program (Prodac), accusing Sonko of political manipulation and struggling to accept the consequences of his own conviction.
Speaking Monday on RFM Matin, Niang dismissed Sonko’s statements alleging the diversion of 29 billion CFA francs under Prodac, calling the claims “a disgrace” and evidence of the Prime Minister’s ignorance of institutional procedures.
“There is no report that says Mame Mbaye Niang took 29 billion,” he said. “To hear a Prime Minister of Senegal make such remarks is a disgrace. A Prime Minister should not be so ignorant of the laws.”
Niang reiterated that the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF), which Sonko frequently cites, does not have the authority to sanction a government minister. At the time, he said he served only as the supervising minister and not the authorizing officer responsible for expenditures.
“He has taken on a role too big for him. He has shown incompetence in the face of the heavy burden that awaits him,” Niang remarked, arguing that Sonko’s statements are driven by political frustration rather than facts.
Recalling the Trial: “He Faked Fainting”
In one of the most striking moments of the interview, Niang recalled the high-profile defamation case that resulted in Sonko’s conviction and subsequent loss of presidential eligibility. He directly addressed Sonko’s repeated claims that the IGF report justified his accusations.
“Sonko was convicted fairly,” Niang said. “The Prime Minister initially spoke of an IGE report, then admitted to the police that he meant IGF, without being able to produce it. When during the trial he was asked to submit that IGF report, he faked fainting. That’s the picture you saw of him on the table being attended by a doctor.”
Niang argued that the incident reflected Sonko’s inability to defend his accusations once confronted with legal accountability.
“He Cannot Accept His Ineligibility”
According to Niang, Sonko’s recent attacks are driven by the lasting political consequences of the case, which barred him from contesting the 2024 presidential election and, Niang insists, will continue to haunt him ahead of 2029.
“Ousmane Sonko cannot accept his ineligibility. He can’t stomach it, and I have no regrets about it,” Niang declared. “He was fairly convicted. He should be ashamed to even mention my name. Please, leave me alone.”
Niang added that the accusations had deeply affected his personal and professional life:
“Sonko’s remarks have harmed me. Wherever I work today, I am forced to present the court ruling to prove that it’s all false. He has defamed me and tarnished my reputation in front of my children, my family, and the entire world.”
Defending Pape Malick Ndour and a New Legal Fight
Niang also rejected Sonko’s implication of former Prodac Director General Pape Malick Ndour in alleged financial mismanagement. He said the report Sonko referenced originated from the Court of Auditors, not the IGF, and announced his intention to file a complaint against the consulting firm hired by Sonko’s government.
“Whatever They Change, He Will Not Be a Candidate”
Despite the change of administration, Niang insisted the judiciary has already spoken definitively and will uphold Sonko’s ineligibility in any future electoral process.
“The reversal of the ruling confirmed my position. Justice has been served. Ousmane Sonko will never again be a candidate in the presidential election. In Senegal, the law is impersonal. Whatever changes they attempt, the justice system will reject his candidacy.”
With the political rivalry resurfacing publicly, Niang’s remarks signal a renewed battle over the legacy of the Prodac case and its influence over Senegal’s future electoral landscape.
