Not Iran this time! I've been in Senegal the last couple of weeks. And, you know? Senegal is (1) 90% Muslim, and (2) a vibrant democracy. The opposition won the last couple of elections. The press is free -- sometimes obnoxiously so. Human rights violations are relatively rare. (Nonexistent, really, by African standards.) Senegal has never had a military dictatorship, a civil war, or a coup. Okay, the first couple of Presidents ruled for twenty years each, but they seem to be past that -- the current President won a free and fair election. He's also term limited, and everyone is already looking forward to a gloriously democratic free-for-all in a couple of years when he steps down. I don't want to overstate here. Senegal has all the usual African problems. It's desperately poor. About a third of the population is still illiterate. There's spectacular corruption. The President is clearly grooming his son for the succession; this involves putting Junior in the path of some rather large business opportunities. And while Senegal is a democracy, I might hesitate to call it a fully functional liberal democracy. Media that criticize the President too sharply may get hassled or shut down, government money is poured out like water to win elections, and many Ministers and members of Parliament are pretty openly for sale.
Not Iran this time!
I've been in Senegal the last couple of weeks. And, you know? Senegal is (1) 90% Muslim, and (2) a vibrant democracy.
The opposition won the last couple of elections. The press is free -- sometimes obnoxiously so. Human rights violations are relatively rare. (Nonexistent, really, by African standards.) Senegal has never had a military dictatorship, a civil war, or a coup. Okay, the first couple of Presidents ruled for twenty years each, but they seem to be past that -- the current President won a free and fair election. He's also term limited, and everyone is already looking forward to a gloriously democratic free-for-all in a couple of years when he steps down.
I don't want to overstate here. Senegal has all the usual African problems. It's desperately poor. About a third of the population is still illiterate. There's spectacular corruption. The President is clearly grooming his son for the succession; this involves putting Junior in the path of some rather large business opportunities. And while Senegal is a democracy, I might hesitate to call it a fully functional liberal democracy. Media that criticize the President too sharply may get hassled or shut down, government money is poured out like water to win elections, and many Ministers and members of Parliament are pretty openly for sale.
The results in the 2007 elections were far from transparent. In the face of the PDS's strong arm tactics and intimidation many parties refused to participate, among them the AFP which finished 3rd in 2000
The documentary "Democracy in Dakar" presents a less flattering picture. This fascinating document show how the different generations of Senegalese Hip Hop, Traditional and Reggae musicians helped Wade overcome the PS and then how some helped him hold onto power while others who later criticized his failings were censored and worse.
The Reggae star Tiken Jah Fakoly is one of many who have criticized Wade:
Political posturing aimed at positioning his son to succeed him, the detention without trial of critical journalists and the diminishing power of parliament have all tarnished Senegal's once-bright democratic credentials, Wade's critics say.
Wade continues to hand power to his son, Karim, despite the PDS's losses in recent communal elections Daily Nation - Kenya. He also gave his support to a military coup in neighboring Guinea Also Daily Nation. L'inteligence sans volonté n'aboutit ŕ rien, n'est-ce pas?... Mais, la volonté sans intelligence?... Catastrophe!... Celine
