​Opacity, billions and silence: the underbelly of a state scandal 

  The latest report of the Court of Auditors on the period 2019-2024 highlights serious irregularities in the management of public finances. Five major dossiers, qualified as “judicial bombs”, have been transmitted to the Pôle judiciaire financier (PJF), revealing potential embezzlements of an unprecedented magnitude. Among the relevant facts, there is an amount of 114,4 billion FCFA linked to Sukuk Sogepa, without budgetary traceability. No account opening would have been registered, and transfers would have been made without the signature of the Minister of Finance, in flagrant violation of the procedures in force. Another point of alert: the term deposits of 141.87 billion FCFA would not have been returned to the public treasury. This failure raises questions about the transparency in the management of public funds. The Court also refers to a loan contracted with Banques internationales in Togo and Burkina, of which 80.04 billion FCFA would not have been accounted for in the Treasury’s books, suggesting a possible concealment of the debt or an administrative mismanagement. The report also mentions nominal certificates of obligation, valued at 576 billion FCFA, involving in particular the Lansar Auto Suarl company. It is worrying that some of these certificates were signed after the presidential elections of 24 March, outside the regulatory deadlines. Finally, the agreements on asset substitution with several private companies, including Dermond Oil and Gas, Immoland, and Carrefour Automobile, raise questions about the mechanisms of attribution and control of these markets. This new scandal raises once again the question of accountability in the management of public money, and highlights the urgency of strengthening the mechanisms of control and transparency. Source l’OBS