The publication of the Court of Auditors' report continues to stir up the Senegalese political scene. Abdoul Mbaye, former prime minister and ex-banker, has denounced financial irregularities that he considers serious, calling for exemplary sanctions. In a Facebook post, he criticized the figures put forward by the government and relied on the expertise of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to challenge their reliability.

"During my last interview with the national press and after reading the Court of Auditors' report, I stressed that the figures contained in the government's report were clearly false and that the IMF would provide the correct data to be used," he stated, believing that "the best experts in public finance were among their staff."

For him, the observed failings are not just a matter of accounting errors, but are part of an organized system of embezzlement of public funds. He demands that "every observed violation of the law and regulations" be attributed to identified officials and that they be "punished with the maximum severity."

The former head of government goes further, citing moral and financial harm on an international scale: "The IMF, technical partners, the international community, and the markets have also been deceived and robbed. They must all help recover ill-gotten assets, which are often transferred outside Senegal."

Faced with this accusation, the response from Ousseynou Ly, the presidential spokesperson, was swift. In a message published on X, he challenged Abdoul Mbaye's position, accusing him of systematically denigrating national expertise in favor of foreign experts. "I agree with you, Mr. Mbaye, that there is no worse betrayal than sullying one's country's reputation. But equally, there is no worse COMPLEX attitude than thinking that all the best expertise necessarily comes from abroad," he replied.

The head of state's spokesperson also highlighted what he considers a contradiction in the former prime minister's argument. "You say that the best public finance experts are in the ranks of the IMF. But in the conclusion of your text, you say that they have been DECEIVED. And this for many years. So, tell us how civil servants you consider minimalists can "fool" the best public finance experts of a partner organization?"

The spokesperson took the opportunity to point out that the current transparency is the result of the political will of the new government, in accordance with a law adopted under Abdoul Mbaye himself. "What is apparent here is not only your desire to unmask the real forgers, but also your burning desire to never recognize and salute the exercise of truth to which the new regime has subscribed," he said, before asking: "What did you do to apply it to yourself?"