Prime
Senegal sets good roadmap for democratic reforms in Africa
Vendors sell newspapers heralding the victory of Sall in Dakar during the week. Sall defeated incumbent Abdulaye Wade. PHOTO by AFP
The political developments in the recently conducted elections in Senegal are in reality an eye opener to other countries across Africa. While the people of Senegal and the international community expected the worst to happen in the run-off elections, the incumbent president has come out clean to protect his country from any political and economic mess.
He has demonstrated a good sense of patriotism and statesmanship following in the footsteps of other credible former leaders like; Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Mzee Arap Moi of Kenya, Joaquim Alberto Chissano of Mozambique, Festus Mogae of Botswana, John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and more recently, Rupiah Banda of Zambia.
It has been noted that Senegalese presidential election, which saw the incumbent concede defeat peacefully, has been hailed as a “great victory for democracy” in Africa. The ageing president Abdoulaye Wade, 85, has accepted that he was defeated by Macky Sall in Sunday’s run-off. The African Union on the other hand, said Mr Wade’s concession showed “maturity” in the country’s democracy while the European Union called Senegal a “great example”.
US president Barack Obama in a congratulation message to newly-elected Senegalese president Macky Sall said the peaceful transition makes it “harder for non-democratic forces near and far to prevail”. Senegal has through the election, reaffirmed its tradition as a leading example of good governance and democracy at work in Africa and remains an example for its neighbours.
The president-elect, 50, said the poll marks a “new era” for the country. Senegal is a major African country and a model of democracy. Unlike other regional countries which have over the decades been doted with coup d’etats, Senegal remains the only country in West Africa to have never undergone a coup. The government of Macky will be tasked to focus on the social, economic and political reforms to improve on the household standards of the people.
Provision of education, good healthcare services to reduce maternal health risks, job creation to cater for the youths, improved infrastructure, modern agricultural methods, professionalism in security organs and other social amenities will no doubt give credibility to the new regime.
On a good note, Macky’s inauguration ceremony on Monday April 2 in Dakar, will take a low profile at the constitutional council. This is contrally to his immediate predecessor, who was sworn in at the jam-packed Leopold Sedar Senghor football stadium amid thunderous traditional fanfare.
The interesting scenario is that while Senegalese government has over the years focused on strengthening the democratic reforms, the authorities in Mali have once again destroyed the democratic process which has been surviving for over twenty years since Lt. Col. Amadou Toumani Toure forcefully snatched power from the government of Lt. Moussa Traore in a successful military coup in 1991.
President Amadou Toumani Toure and a host of his ministers are now under detention pending charges by the new military Junta in a country strangely haunted by a history of successful, attempted, plotted and alleged coup d’etats, which have ruined the country’s economic structure. Mali’s suspension from AU and Ecowas following the undemocratic coup is a double tragedy to a country which is struggling to find its footing politically and economically.
Mali’s GDP per Capita stands at $796 as compared to Senegal’s GDP per Capita which is at $1,096. Senegal leads Mali by six steps in ascending rank. Of course Equatorial Guinea sits on top of the table with a strong GDP per Capita of $14,374 while Burundi is at the bottom of the table with GDP per Capita of $197. There are many contributing factors in the economic build-up for each country but credit must be given to a balanced and people-centered leadership.
African governments should borrow a leaf from Senegal to set up political and economic reforms which will lift the continent to greater heights. I know different leaders demonstrate unique leadership approaches owing to different geographical and historical environments but for Africa to experience a new reformation era there is urgent need for a strong sense of synergy, especially in the democratic reforms as it is in most parts of Europe, Asia and North America.
Different regional blocs in Africa for instance; ECOWAS, SADC and EAC should identify a common ground for the purposes of unity and development initiatives which will steer the continent forward in order to realize the millennium development goals of the 21st century.
The writer is the overseer of Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Western Region. Bare Knuckles returns next week
