Senegalese mayor faces investigation over $2.85m fraud

The mayor of Senegal’s capital Khalifa Sall is facing a judicial probe into the disappearance of 1.83 billion CFA francs ($2.85 million) in city funds, the country’s top prosecutor said on Friday.

The chief prosecutor, Serigne Bassirou Gueye said his office was unable to show receipts proving that funds earmarked for purchasing rice and millet for the city’s population had been spent correctly.

“Next week I will refer to the judge of the court the case of Dakar city council regarding misappropriation of public funds, forgery and the use of forged documents,” he said, before naming Sall specifically,” he” added.

Sall, who is a member of the coalition of ruling parties, has led Dakar since 2009 and has been seen as the best contender in the 2019 presidential elections.

Almost half of the Senegalese population lives below the poverty line and many require assistance to feed their families.

The money had been taken from the city’s coffers over the last six years.

Senegal is widely seen as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.