Bousif Ould Sid Ahmed, the former coordinator of Mauritania's Cities project, has publicly denied any connection between his removal from the position and reports from the General Inspection of the State, the Court of Accounts, or the project's financier, the World Bank. He emphasized that the project underwent regular financial audits every six months during his tenure, with nearly ten audit missions conducted.
According to Ould Sid Ahmed, these audits, which were conducted by the World Bank, did not reveal any un justified expenses or financial discrepancies. He described the project's financial management as satisfactory, based on relevant evaluations and documents. The information, he noted, is documented in project files available on the World Bank's website, including summaries of audit missions and financial implementation assessments.
Ould Sid Ahmed also clarified that his removal from the position was not related to any findings by the Court of Accounts, as the project had not been subject to an audit by this institution since its inception. He expressed understanding for those who may have speculated about a connection due to coincidental timing with administrative decisions related to a Court of Accounts investigation.
The former coordinator dismissed the notion that his removal was requested by the project's financier, citing that the World Bank had approved an additional $25 million in funding for the project in late 2023. He questioned the logic of a financier approving additional funding while dissatisfied with the original funding's management.
Ould Sid Ahmed highlighted his role in introducing digitalization to public procurement in Mauritania since 2021. He argued that his removal, like appointments, falls under the discretionary authority of the executive and is not necessarily tied to performance issues or inspections.
Regarding the General Inspection of the State report, Ould Sid Ahmed produced documented correspondence with the overseeing ministry, which he claimed contradicts the narrative that his removal was linked to the report. He chose not to publish the correspondence due to professional confidentiality and not being a defendant in a judicial matter.
Ould Sid Ahmed invited the press to publish any evidence supporting the claim that his removal was connected to the Inspection report. He emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability, having ensured the project's financial management was conducted with integrity.
Key points
- Ould Sid Ahmed denies any wrongdoing during his tenure as Cities project coordinator.
- The World Bank approved an additional $25 million in funding for the project in late 2023.
- Ould Sid Ahmed introduced digitalization to public procurement in Mauritania since 2021.
