The case of land titles 1451/R, known as the ’94 billion case’, represents a major political and judicial scandal in Senegal, marked by complex land issues, accusations of corruption and heavy political implications. It is at the heart of a long-standing contentious between the heirs of Ousmane Mbengue and the heirs of Djily Mbaye, an influential marabout and businessman who died in 1991. This land is valued at 94 billion CFA francs, a sum which testifies to the economic magnitude of the dossier, all the more so as the surface and location make this parcel a particularly prized asset. The case took an important political turn when Ousmane Sonko, leader of the opposition and a key figure in the Senegalese political landscape, denounced what he considered to be an orchestrated plunder of the Mbengue heirs. Sonko pointed the finger at the alleged involvement of high-ranking State officials, such as Mamour Diallo, former director of the Domaines, and Tahibou Ndiaye, former director of the Cadastre, whom he accused of complicity in fraudulent maneuvers aimed at ousting the legitimate heirs of the estate. The Office national de lutte contre la fraude et la corruption (OFNAC) played a crucial role in the emergence of this case. A report published by the OFNAC indicates that considerable sums of money were misappropriated in the course of this earlier transaction. The complainants, supported by this report, assert that third-party structures or individuals have acted in complete opacity, often with the complicity of officials, to divert funds and manipulate the management process of the property.
The 94 billion affair: officials at stake, corruption and political implications in Senegal
