Bachir Fofana has petitioned the National Office for Combatting Illicit Enrichment (OFNAC) to investigate the alleged mismanagement of 37 billion FCFA within the Senegalese Agency for Rural Electrification (ASER). The request follows the publication of Fofana’s investigative book, which examines financial irregularities and the failure of rural electrification projects in Senegal, according to local media reports.
- Primary Figure: Bachir Fofana, investigative author.
- Amount under scrutiny: 37 billion FCFA.
- Specific disputed amount: 918 million FCFA (AEE POWER invoice).
- Regulatory body involved: OFNAC.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement
The request to OFNAC seeks to clarify the destination and use of 37 billion FCFA associated with the REES (Rural Electrification Support) and ASER. According to reports from local media, Fofana’s petition is an extension of the findings detailed in his investigative literary work, which claims public funds were diverted during the rollout of electricity to rural areas.
Samba Faye of the RV has publicly questioned the utility of the expenditure, asking To whom does the black profit?
in reference to the perceived failure of the electrification initiatives. Faye characterized the situation as a fiasco, according to local press accounts.
The AEE POWER Invoice Dispute
Central to the controversy is a specific financial claim involving AEE POWER. Local reports indicate that new revelations have surfaced regarding a suspected fake invoice totaling 918 million FCFA. This figure represents a small fraction of the overall 37 billion FCFA in question, but it serves as a primary example of the alleged irregularities cited in the ASER-AEE POWER dealings.
Industry and Public Reactions
The fallout from the ASER investigation has drawn criticism from civil society organizations. The ACT has issued an alert regarding the situation, describing the mismanagement of public resources as organized predation,
according to local reports.
The contrast between the official goals of rural electrification and the reported financial gaps has led to increased scrutiny of how these contracts were awarded and monitored. While the 37 billion FCFA figure represents the broad scope of the investigation, the specific 918 million FCFA invoice has become a focal point for those alleging systemic fraud.
The situation represents an organized predation of public resources.
— ACT statement via local media
OFNAC has not yet issued a formal public determination on the petition filed by Fofana.
