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4 clusters · 16 sources · 9 days · First seen · Last updated

Senegal parliamentary inquiry into computer program

Overview

A parliamentary inquiry in Senegal is investigating the ‘Un étudiant, un ordinateur’ (One Student, One Computer) program following allegations of mismanagement and missing equipment. Hearings have focused on administrative processes within the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, with officials testifying that they were not involved in the initial procurement design.

During the proceedings, Fatou Seck, Director General of Oumou Group, defended her company against accusations regarding 2,000 missing computers, asserting that all 20,000 ordered units were delivered. Meanwhile, the investigation has faced resistance from former officials. Cheikh Oumar Anne described the proceedings as a ‘witch hunt against worthy servants of the Republic,’ while Moussa Baldé and Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo declined summons, citing a lack of specific details and criticizing the use of WhatsApp for official notifications.

In recent testimony, former Minister of Higher Education Daouda Ngom highlighted significant irregularities, claiming the program operated outside the Public Procurement Code and the Code of Obligations, which he argued should render the project ‘null and void.’ Ngom stated the program cost the Treasury approximately 6 billion FCFA annually without the knowledge of the Central Directorate of Public Procurement or the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Arcop).

Ngom also addressed the distribution of 4.766 billion FCFA to 19,064 students at Cheikh Hamidou Kane University. He defended these payments of 250,000 FCFA per student as an exceptional measure to allow students to purchase computers before classes, claiming it saved the state over 1 billion FCFA compared to direct procurement costs. He noted that the transfers were authorized by the Minister of Finance.

Entities

Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo · Moussa Baldé · Ecobank · Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation · Central Directorate of Public Procurement

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Daouda Ngom testifies on procurement irregularities in student computer program

    Former Higher Education Minister Daouda Ngom testified to a parliamentary inquiry regarding procurement irregularities and the distribution of 4.766 billion FCFA to students for computers in Senegal.

  2. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Senegal parliamentary inquiry faces resistance from former ministers

    Former Senegalese ministers Moussa Baldé and Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo have refused to testify before a parliamentary inquiry into the ‘One Student, One Computer’ program, citing vague summons.

  3. [POLITICS] 9 sources
    Senegal parliamentary inquiry faces pushback from former ministers

    Several former Senegalese ministers have refused to testify before a parliamentary inquiry into the ‘One student, one computer’ program, citing procedural flaws and political bias.

  4. [POLITICS] 8 sources
    Senegal parliamentary inquiry investigates ‘Un étudiant, un ordinateur’ program

    Senegal's parliamentary inquiry into the ‘Un étudiant, un ordinateur’ program faces scrutiny over procurement processes and allegations of missing equipment, with Oumou Group denying any wrongdoing.

Sources

actunet.net · diegouneinfos.com · emedia.sn · lesoleil.sn · nettali.com · pressafrik.com · senegal7.com · senego.com · senenews.com · sentv.info · sunugal24.net · sunuker.com · terangatimesn.com · thies24.com · topnews.sn · xibaaru.sn

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history