SN: Jean-Michel Sène's AEE Power Assets Under Investigation

• The Section de Recherches in Dakar is investigating AEE Power's activities, focusing on Jean-Michel Sène and other key figures.
• Multiple complaints have been filed against individuals involved in the case, including allegations of attempted fraud and forgery.
• Allegations of embezzlement and financial misconduct have sparked outrage over the management of rural electrification funds in Senegal.
• The investigation is ongoing, with the Section de Recherches working to uncover any potential wrongdoing.

Les réquisitions en cours visent à établir d'éventuelles irrégularités dans la gestion des fonds destinés à l'électrification rurale.

The Section de Recherches in Dakar is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into AEE Power's activities, focusing particularly on Jean-Michel Sène, the general director of ASER. The investigation has led to property and financial requisitions from various institutions, including the Conservation foncière, Direction générale des impôts, notarial offices, and banks. These measures aim to scrutinize Jean-Michel Sène's assets. Other key figures in the case are also under scrutiny by investigators, including Seydou Kane and José Ángel González. This development is part of a broader judicial landscape. In September 2024, the administrator of AEE Power EPC SA filed a complaint against the administrator of AEE Power Sénégal and its project manager for attempted fraud, forgery, and use of forged documents. In January 2025, a second investigation was entrusted to the Division des investigations criminelles after the Agent judiciaire de l'État denounced the alleged use of a fake invoice worth 918 339 800 FCFA in the contract between ASER and AEE Power EPC.

The investigation has been ongoing since September 2024, with multiple complaints filed against various individuals. In January 2025, a second investigation was launched after allegations of a fake invoice worth 918 339 800 FCFA were made. The case took on greater significance in June 2026 when Thierno Alassane Sall presented bank statements showing that nearly 37 billion FCFA had been credited to an AEE Power account in one day, only for 30 billion to disappear within two months. This revelation sparked outrage, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of rural electrification funds.

The investigation into AEE Power's activities has significant implications for the management of rural electrification funds in Senegal. The allegations of embezzlement and financial misconduct raise concerns about the potential irregularities in the handling of these funds. Lawyers and compliance officers should take note, as this case may uncover evidence of wrongdoing that could have far-reaching consequences for those involved. The investigation is ongoing, with the Section de Recherches working to shed light on any potential wrongdoing.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential irregularities in the management of funds destined for rural electrification in Senegal, as investigations into AEE Power's activities may uncover evidence of embezzlement or other financial misconduct.

Source: Original reporting via Libération