The Ministry of Higher Education has seen three leadership changes in two years, with former ministers including Abdourahmane Diouf, Daouda Ngom, and current officeholder Boubacar Camara, appointed on June 1, 2026.
Parliament to investigate 48 billion CFA contract irregularities
Among the six parliamentary inquiry commissions scheduled for the special session of August 10, 2026, one stands out for its financial scale. The probe targets alleged irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts under the « One Student, One Laptop » program, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation since 2017. The program’s total financial commitment is estimated at 48 billion CFA francs. Political and media circles are now questioning whether this investigation is indirectly targeting former minister Abdourahmane Diouf.
The investigation’s origins trace back to late 2025
This issue resurfaced in public discourse on November 8, 2025, when then-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly flagged irregularities in higher education program management during Abdourahmane Diouf’s tenure. Diouf responded by urging lawmakers to establish a parliamentary commission to examine these cases, including the construction of five university lots, while acknowledging shared responsibility with the Prime Minister at the time.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Higher Education has undergone three ministerial transitions in two years: Abdourahmane Diouf, followed by Daouda Ngom, and finally Boubacar Camara, who took office on June 1, 2026. The inquiry commission’s mandate covers events from 2017—predating the current administration—meaning it theoretically encompasses the tenure of multiple ministers across different periods.
Political tensions fuel speculation over motives
The timing of this parliamentary probe coincides with heightened political tensions between Ousmane Sonko and Abdourahmane Diouf. After leaving the Awalé party and the ruling coalition, Diouf joined Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains, the new party backed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, marking a definitive break from Sonko’s Pastef movement. This political shift has led some observers to suggest the inquiry may serve as a veiled attempt to settle scores rather than a genuine accountability measure.
The official decree convening the extraordinary session does not explicitly name Abdourahmane Diouf, as the inquiry covers the entire 2017–2026 period. This timeframe potentially implicates multiple ministers and technical directors within the MESRI without singling out any one individual in the formal text.
While the inquiry’s timing aligns with Diouf’s departure from the presidential camp and his alignment with Kiiraay, no concrete evidence currently supports claims that Ousmane Sonko is specifically targeting his former government colleague through this parliamentary process. Only the commission’s findings, once published, will clarify the exact responsibilities in managing the 48 billion CFA program.
