With the news of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leaving ECOWAS this past January, comes the postponement of elections in Senegal. This announcement was made by President of the Republic of Senegal Macky Sall. it has been announced that elections will be held in December. Who does this benefit? What are the outcomes of such drastic decisions? Is it constitutional?
Senegal is a country located in West Africa along the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It shares borders with Mauritania to the North, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal surrounds The Gambia (our smiling coast) along the Gambia river which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. Senegal also has a border with Cape Verde. With a population of approximately 18 million people and a climate that is typically Sahelian with rainy seasons, postponement of elections is not decision Senegalese citizens are pleased with.
The Senegal of Cheikh Anta Diop and Fatou Diome cannot be the same Senegal that has been left in the hands of President Macky Sall. It can't be.
Macky Sall is the current President of the Republic of Senegal. President Macky Sall served as Mayor from 2009 to 2012 in Fatick (where he was born). He then served as prime minister for three years from 2004 to 2007 under former President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade. President Sall also acted as President of the Senegalese National Assembly from 2007 to 2008 before being elected as fourth President of the Republic of Senegal in March 2012 (officially taking office April 2, 2012).
The history of Senegal's democracy (elections) can be described as "smooth going." The Republic of Senegal is the only country within Western Africa that has never experienced a military coup. However, the lack of military coup does not equate political contentment within Senegal. What we need to remember is the history of Senegalese citizens' discontentment did not start on February 3. Pictured above is Ousmane Sonko. Sonko ran as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election, advocating for Senegal to replace the franc with a domestic currency. Sonko has been a major figure in the Senegalese opposition against President Macky Sall. he was sentenced to two years in prison in June of 2023 due to a massage parlor who filed a complaint against Sonko for "repetitive rape and death threats." In July of 2023, Sonko's party PASTEF was dissolved by the Senegalese government. Many have attributed Sonko's imprisonment to his political message resonating with the youth as the reason for "false allegations" being made against him.
My Thoughts as Muslim Malian Woman...
President Macky Sall has recently made a decision that has raised concerns about the reinforcement of Senegal's constitution and the country's overall democracy. Senegal has long been regarded as one of West Africa's most stable democracies. My question is how are we (Africa and Africans) defining stability and democracy? How do we envision our countries and governments operating?
It is not lost on me that Francophone Africa is outraged, disarrayed, rebellious and pulling down on the doors of what seemed to be democracy. The reality is that Africa has never known true democracy whether the country has experienced a military coup or not. There is a growing sentiment of liberation and revolution as a necessity rather than an afterthought within African youth. Africans are past the roundtable discussions. It is time for action.
I've mentioned it before, but I am surprised by peoples' surprise. Africa and Africans are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Contextualization will always be key to understanding. Africa and Africans have never recuperated from the terror of colonialism. Is colonialism the end all be all for Africa? No. Does that moment in history negatively impact the African continent? Without a shadow of doubt. Historical Context: The integration of democracy in Africa is a result of historical processes such as decolonization and the collapse of communism. Multiparty elections, which gained prominence in the 1990s, played a crucial role in introducing democracy to the continent.
Africa and Africans are going through the final stage of decolonization: action. One of my favorite articles on the process of decolonization is by Poka Laenui. Laenui describes colonization and decolonization as social processes more than they are political processes. Poka states, " I suggest five distinct phases of a people's decolonization. These are: 1) rediscovery and recovery, 2) mourning, 3) dreaming, 4) commitment, and 5) action. Each phase can be experienced at the same time or in various combinations. Like the steps of colonization, these phases of decolonization do not have clear demarcations between each other." Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Niger are experiencing these phases. May we be victorious in the end. We say no to colonization and welcome decolonization and liberation. We have nothing to lose.
Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Do not forget to like and share ! Follow me on socials if you'd like oumouhaidara_ oumouhaidara_