A fourth former government minister in Senegal has been formally charged with corruption, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye intensifies his anti-corruption drive, court sources and local media reported on Thursday.
Moustapha Diop, who served as minister for industrial development under former President Macky Sall, stands accused of misappropriating approximately four million dollars from a national fund established to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The court has ordered his immediate detention, according to members of his legal team.
Diop is the latest in a growing list of former cabinet members under scrutiny for the alleged misuse of funds during the previous administration.
A total of five ex-ministers are being investigated over suspected embezzlement, particularly concerning monies earmarked for pandemic relief.
Earlier this month, Senegal’s national assembly passed a resolution to establish a special court tasked with examining the allegations against the former officials. The court has since moved swiftly, laying formal charges against three ministers this week.
On Monday, the former Minister for Women, Salimata Diop, was indicted for “complicity in embezzlement.” The following day, ex-Justice Minister Ismaila Madior Fall was accused of accepting bribes.
Wednesday saw charges brought against former Mining Minister Aissatou Sophie Gladima, who is alleged to have embezzled $330,000 from a fund intended to support miners impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.
A fifth minister, Amadou Mansour Faye, is expected to appear before the special court next week.
The wide-ranging investigation marks a key initiative for President Faye, who assumed office earlier this year on a platform promising transparency and accountability in government.
The anti-corruption campaign has garnered both public support and intense scrutiny, as Senegal grapples with restoring public trust in its institutions.
