The report 2022-2023 of the Autorité de Régulation des Marchés Publics (Arcop) highlighted serious shortcomings and irregularities in the award of several public contracts in Senegal. According to the revelations of the daily Libération, these practices concern various institutions and communities, including Anacmu, the Crous de Bambey, the mairie de Touba Mosquée, as well as certain ministries and public establishments. The newspaper refers to a “mafia pact” between certain companies and public structures aimed at “capturing” the files of requests for proposals (DRP). Some office supplies contracts were thus awarded to non-qualified structures, while other works contracts, sometimes exceeding CFAF 700 million, were awarded to undertakings with no proven technical competence. According to Libération, the Arcop report highlights “over-billing” and “biased consultations” in several markets, including the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (Cdc), and the Sandiara High School. The audit of the latter would have revealed a damage estimated at more than 3,2 billion CFA francs. In an interview with Libération, Moustapha Diop, Director-General of ARCOP, recalled the importance of respecting the procedures for the transfer and transparency in the management of public resources. He stressed that these malfunctions, when they are detected, require appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures.
3.2 billion CFA francs involved: the Arcop meets the challenges of public procurement
