In the chorus of protests provoked by the Senegalese authorities’ decision to postpone the presidential election until December, the US State Department, the equivalent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made a statement.  The spokesman of Anthony Blinken said that the United States was « deeply concerned by the measures taken to delay Senegal’s February 25 presidential election, which run counter to Senegal’s strong democratic tradition ». Matthew Miller believes that the unrest that marred the vote on the day of the postponement at the National Assembly meant that « we had a vote at the National Assembly that cannot be considered legitimate given the conditions in which it took place ».

Everyone always praises the quality of American democracy, a reputation due mainly to the propaganda skills of its citizens, who want everyone to believe that their « American way of life » is the best in the world, that their democracy is supported by the most dignified values, which they strive to share with all their « friends and allies ». In practice, we see how this works.

Postponement of the Presidential Elections: Heavy Pressure on Macky

Thus, Matthew Miller and his boss, Blinken, did nothing to denounce the decision of their colleague Volodimyr Zelensky to postpone the Ukrainian presidential election due to be held in his country this year. Mr Zelensky used the pretext of war with Russia to say that the election (which he described as a farce) could weaken his country in the war. The funny thing is that the Russian enemy, led by « dictator Putin », intends to hold its presidential election this year, despite the conflict with Ukraine. But now the story is that the dictator has given himself the means to win outright…  As if that’s all it was?

The Biden Administration, which seems to have hesitated to describe the political situation in the country as a coup d’état, and which is urging the resumption of the electoral process, has never had a word to condemn General Abdourahmane Tiani’s coup in Niger. Despite friendly pressure from their ally Macron and urgent exhortations from ECOWAS, to which they are now appealing to take on Macky Sall, the Americans merely complained about the « coup de force » by the Niger military, which they never wanted to treat as a putsch.

Creation of Fc 25: The New Opposition Club

This is for the very simple reason that describing the Niger military as putschists would have meant severing all diplomatic relations and stopping all assistance to a government that had thus become « illegitimate ». However, in their « fight against armed jihadism in the Sahel », the Americans have installed their largest military drone base in Niger, and they have no intention of withdrawing it. And if they have to step on their principles to do so, there’s no hesitation.

Cancellation of the Presidential Election of February 25: The Coup of Force

All this to say that the pride and self-respect of the Senegalese people should lead them to relativise the criticisms that come from abroad. Not approving of what President Sall did on 3 February should not lead us to believe that our political system has lessons to learn from anyone. Especially from countries which, despite their reputation, also need to put their own house in order. Let’s not forget that we are talking about a country where a President refused to recognise the results of the elections and asked his supporters to occupy Congress to force parliamentarians not to install his successor. A country where the chances of being elected depend largely on the financial capacity of the candidates.

It is true that it is our political class that is at the root of all these infamies. Those who tend to shout loudest about their desire to strengthen the country’s independence are the quickest to call on « foreign partners » not only to denounce the shortcomings of their local adversaries, but above all to contribute financially to their efforts to gain power, or keep it. And yet, the donkey sometimes even kicks the donkey that feeds him!

By Mohamed GUEYE / mgueye@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH