The Gambia: A message of solidarity to Senegal from across the border

By Mathew K Jallow

This year, after more than fifty years of relative political stability, Senegal is on the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. With barely two weeks to the decisive elections of March 18th, the whole world is holding its collective breath; waiting, watching, anxious and hopeful; hopeful that five decades of exemplary political leadership will not descend into chaos or mire Senegal in a state of political quandary.

Africa's most admired democracy is facing the greatest challenge of our life-time; a baptism of fire that will test the limits of Senegal's endurance. There is little wonder then that the eyes of the world are focused on Senegal, Africa's last bastion of democracy; a country that boasts Africa's most robust and open political system; a true democracy untouched by the vicissitudes of political tyranny and untainted by the loathsomeness of dictatorship.

The fate of fifty years of unprecedented political stability is at stake, and Senegal's calm demeanor and moderating influence on the tripartite Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia states stands to degenerate into a political morass characterized by civil unrest and political strife. And with Yahya Jammeh arming, training and supporting an insignificant group of Casamance separatists on the southern border with the Gambia, one more hotspot in the Senegambia/Guinea-Bissau region is one thing Africa does not need.

In this brave new era of global politics, the people of Senegal are not standing alone. But amidst all the international attention, one country, The Gambia, more than any other, has more to lose from Senegal's most violent political season in memory. And unlike the rest of the free world, Gambians, lacking a legitimate government to speak on our behalf, have taken the liberty to extend our unwavering support to the Senegalese people in their unrelenting desire to keep their traditional democratic values alive.

This is a struggle to maintain the sanctity of a democratic system admired by the world and envied by the rest of Africa. It is a struggle that represents the new Africa devoid of the old mindset where perennial leadership and endemic corruption serve the few at the expense of the majority. And as the international community mobilizes to give moral support to Senegal's opposition forces, Gambians join the chorus of voices to express sympathy for the lives lost.

The blood-letting brought on by the incredible intransigence of the senile 85 years old Abdoulaye Wada did not have to happen. Any rule without the consent of the governed is doomed to failure, and in this struggle between the forces of tyranny and government by the people, Gambians are unequivocal in our support of opposition forces fighting to preempt any form of hereditary political leadership in Senegal.

Today, a new paradigm shift in political consciousness across Africa is building momentum and Guinea-Conakry, Ivory Coast and now Senegal have led the charge against the entrenchment in life-time political leaderships that have turned Africa's republican governments into de-facto monarchies. But more than that, President Wada's cunning attempt to position his son Karim Wada to succeed him is doomed to fail, because Senegal will not tolerate the repeat of another Faure Gnassingbe or Joseph Kabila in our midst. And in this challenge to keep the integrity of Senegal's democratic process intact, Senegal will come out injured, but not substantially harmed by the cruel intransigence of President Wada.

This optimism was recently bolstered as the opposition coalesced around support of Macky Sall's candidature in the second round of elections. Moustapha Niasse, Ousmane Tanor Dieng, Idrissa Seck and Chiekh Tidiane Gadio and the rest of the opposition not only make the world proud, but ensured the death blow to President Wada's aspirations for the succession of Karim Wada. The Senegalese opposition has exercised political maturity and selflessness in their collective representation of Senegal's opposition forces. And who can forget the steadfastness with which Youssou Noure and Alieu Tine inspired sacrifice and played a pivotal role in rallying the Senegalese people around the battle cry for political justice.

Today, with the blood of innocent Senegalese spilt over President Wada's attempt to entrench his rule, he has lost an opportunity to compare to Senegal's former iconic leaders; the gentle nobility of the late Leopold Sedar Senghore, the serene magnificence of Abdou Diouf and the alluring enigma of Mamadou Dia. What Abdoulaye Wada did to Senegal over the past weeks is almost a death wish that is Machiavellian in intent. But then the pervasive of Senegal's democratic process has not gone unchallenged and the consequences of his actions will come back to haunt President Wada. Senegal was pushed to the brink, but now a coalition of opposition forces will bring Senegal back from the proverbial cliff edge and deliver Senegal a prideful moment of rare political transition. A new generation of ideological democratic leaders is ascending to power. Political change is coming to Africa; one counrty at a time. Hopefully!

Mathew K Jallow, a Gambian journalist, writer, human rights advocate and political activist has been exiled in the United States since the military took power in The Gambia. Mr. Jallow is one of Gambia's foremost critics of the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh, an uneducated former junior military recruit, who heads the military regime in Gambia.

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