Senegal: civil society demonstrates against corruption around Covid-19 funds

Health services in the Senegalese capital have reached a critical stage in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as seen here at the Idrissa Pouye Hospital in Grand Yoff, July 28, 2021. Society is now outraged after the revelation misappropriation of funds allocated to fight the pandemic.

(illustration) © Seyllou / AFP

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2 mins

In Senegal, many citizens responded to the peaceful demonstration organized by civil society on Friday, December 30 at Place de la Nation.

This to demand light and legal action on the management of funds to fight Covid-19.

A report by the Court of Auditors revealed that ministries have embezzled and overcharged for nearly 10 million euros.

Politicians also took part in the demonstration.

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With our correspondent in Dakar,

Senegalese citizens chanted in unison the slogan " 

 " in Wolof " 

 ", at the Place de la Nation at the call of civil society leaders, such as Alioune Tine from the think tank Afrikajom Center and some opposition politicians.

Among them,

or Biram Souley Diop, of Yewwi Askan Wi, as well as the deputies

and Guy Marius Sagna.

Almost all of them took the floor to ask, even demand, from the Senegalese justice system that it go all the way in tracking down the authorities who were singled out in the latest report from the Court of Auditors.

This showed

, i.e. a loss of more than 6 billion CFA francs (about 10 million euros).

According to the government, the amount represents barely 1% of the 1,000 billion CFA francs released by the Senegalese state to meet expenses related to the coronavirus.

Senegalese civil society demands an end to impunity after the scandal of the embezzlement of funds allocated to the fight against Covid-19

Birahim Toure

An attempt to " 

 " which must not pass, according to the opposition and civil society.

The organizers of the demonstration on this square, previously called Place de l'Obélisque, demand the resignation without delay of the ministers involved and the opening of judicial investigations, as

.

The body officially seized the Senegalese Ministry of Justice on Thursday, December 29 to take legal action in this case.

Civil society and the opposition promise not to let themselves be " 

 " by the government's attempts at explanations, and announce a series of demonstrations until this demand, which they consider " 

 ", is met.

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• Senegal

• Coronavirus

• Corruption

• Justice