The official launch of the National Foundation for Solidarity in Senegal , spearheaded by the two wives of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has sparked a heated debate in Senegal. While the organization's stated mission is to intervene in the areas of health, education, and women's empowerment, it is already facing accusations of nepotism and a lack of transparency.

A launch marked by political unease

The structure, created by presidential decree last October, was presented during the inauguration of a cancer screening center. Marie Khone Faye described the foundation as "an instrument at the service of the nation."

However, this initiative is struggling to gain traction, even within the presidential camp. While President Faye recently distanced himself from Pastef to launch his own coalition, historical figures within the party are denouncing a return to past practices.

Points of contention

The project faces strong opposition, particularly on two aspects:

1. The promised break: MP Guy Marius Sagna expressed deep disappointment, believing that this approach contradicts the promises of change. According to him, the Senegalese people did not fight to see a "recycling" of old methods that favor the family circles of those in power.
2. Fund management: Although the foundation is not funded by the state budget but by external partners, the origin and management of these private resources raise concerns.

The Foundation's Defense: Flexibility and Control

Faced with the controversy, the foundation's administrator, Amadou Dramé, justifies the existence of the structure by the need to overcome administrative delays .

“The administration involves somewhat cumbersome and slow procedures. We offer a flexibility that the state lacks to mobilize additional resources.” — Amadou Dramé

To reassure the public about the organization's integrity, management promises to implement several security measures:

1. A foundation board dedicated to governance.
2. An internal control unit .
3. The intervention of auditors to audit the finances.