"With scenes of violence that accompanied the election campaign, it shows that politicians did not campaign. They were being torn apart. This is us (Kouthia and his team) who have made their campaign for them. Civilized manner and in peace. "That's what comedian Kouthia told me this morning when he went to writing IGFM for a courtesy visit.
The man was both very serious and sad when he held me these words. There is something to be sad for our country. For our policies.
The campaign for the local elections of 29 June ends this Friday at midnight. The campaign generated a lot of passions in the country.
Despite calls for a "civilized, peaceful and calm initiated by the leaders of political parties' campaign, the two weeks of the campaign were marked by scenes of violence ever known in Senegal.
The battle between supporters of Alioune Diop Sy and Ndoye, both candidates for Mayor of Dakar Plateau. The shots in Keur Massar in the first week of the campaign.
Before that adds aggression of three journalists in Rufisque, including Sister of Jokko FM, a journalist and correspondent Echos2rues Senegal FM all roughed up by thugs Badara Sene outgoing mayor and candidate for his own succession 16 last June. A Grand Yoff, supporters of Prime Minister Ms. Aminata Touré and the Mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall are not gifts. They look at tiles. And some local officials were unable to resist the urge to "break" the activist. Adama Faye, head of proportional list, not the name, is down very low, raising his hand on a young militant camp Khalifa Sall.
Fever violence has gripped the country. In Ziguinchor, Podor through Thies, all the scenes of violence accompany the caravans of candidates.
Senegal, which prides itself on being a great democratic only meet one of the most elementary rules of democracy. Freedom of expression. At this time of year where everyone is free to say what he thinks without fear of being attacked, intolerance seems to take precedence over reason. For a "No", the way is open every time ... fist.
Instead of a battle of ideas. A comparison of the programs and projects of society. Instead of campaign speeches, we see spikes and other invectives between candidates. And encouraging their supporters sometimes bloody clashes.
While Senegal is hitherto a model of democracy in Africa, but with this spiral of violence, our country is becoming a political jungle. Where all shots are allowed. Where the investigation of cases of violence always end up in drawers. The Moustapha Cissé Lô case is one example among many others.
Today, my little experience of political journalist who was covering the presidential elections (the USA, France and Africa) is the most recent presidential elections in two neighboring countries (Guinea-Bissau of 13 April 2014 Mauritania 21 June 2014) considered abused by most Senegalese as not safe countries, because of putschist past allows me to say today what happens during this campaign that Senegal is on a slope down. In these neighboring countries, I felt safer in the exercise of my profession during the election campaign in Senegal. Where the 2012 presidential and Local 2014 have finished registering the name of Senegal in the concert of nations where electoral violence has become a principle and peace exception.
In Bissau, where I went as well as the first to the second round of the presidential election, there has been one of the most civilized election campaigns in the region. Despite the tension was palpable with the presence of the ECOWAS force in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB) with 850 men, supporters of different candidates have demonstrated greatness and courtesy, fair play before, during and after campaign.
The time was more to the party than bloody clashes. Bissau during the election campaign, it is worth the trip. It is a real Carnival, which has nothing to envy to that of Rio. With all that it entails sounds, lights and colors.
In Bissau, the two candidates in the second round (Nuno José Mario Vaz and Nambian) organized a few meters intervals closing their meetings without them throwing sharp spikes or without their militants come to blows . Everything happened in the greater brotherhood and the utmost courtesy.
Also a remarkable fact in this country. The shade of mango is of polling in most voters in some places. The urn is placed outdoors without activists of a candidate or other attempts to sabotage the upcoming vote. Ensure transparency where the idea of stuffing ballot boxes can you graze mind.
Senegal, who can imagine an office quickly put under the palaver tree in Grand Yoff, Pikine Guédiawaye without thugs sent by candidates lurking in the shadows are trying to seize the polls, especially when they know that their chances of winning are minimal.
In Dakar, which can in this tense context campaign, Aminata Touré see organize meeting the Square and Obelisk Khalifa Sall before the Kennedy School of Dakar without there being any clashes between the two camps .
Nouakchott in Mauritania also a country that has experienced several coups, the atmosphere of the campaign was more peaceful than in Senegal. No case less physical verbal abuse were noted.
God knows that the political configuration and the ideas defended by some candidates as (Ibrahima Moctar Sarr, president of the Alliance for staining black Mauritanian democracy and justice / Movement for Renovation (AJD / MR) and Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, antislavery activist, also president of the Initiative for the abolitionist resurgence (IRA-Mauritania) from the black community with a speech based on exclavagisme face a candidate from the community Maure white, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ) were sources of tension. But everything went in peace and mutual respect. Candidates favored the argument that ideas of force. On arrival the election was conducted in a peaceful and greater transparency.
A scene that impressed me a lot during this campaign. Is that of the young activist Birame Ould Dah Ould Abeid, alone in the ocean activists candidate Aziz, around Tarhil stage (Toujounine) to Nouakchottavec a poster of its leader and shouted to anyone who will listen "Birame, Birame. "Any replica found by supporters of candidate Aziz, who could "blur", was: "You are the only one here to vote Birame" in an atmosphere could not be more friendly.
A democratic progress for this country. While at home in Senegal, it continues to look at these countries as students of democracy. The reality on the ground seems to be quite different.
What seems to be the strength of the rising democracy these countries' culture coup "(Guinea Bissau and Mauritania), it is the televised debates" American "between the candidates. Where for an hour or two, candidates are face to face with a very high level discussions. Where people follow and judge the relevance and the accuracy of the speech of one or the other candidate.
In Senegal, we recall the famous statement Abdoulaye Wade, then candidate of the CA 2000 presidential election 200: "Abdou Diouf nangoul def facing ak man" (Abdou Diouf, former president of Senegal, not not want to face me in a televised debate). He kept his words in the waiting room of the Radio Television Senegal (RTS) after touring the country. Since then much water has flowed under the bridges of Senegalese democracy. But there has never been a serious debate ideas among the various candidates on programs and social projects.
Aminata Touré at the beginning of the campaign, had invited his challenger in Grand Yoff, Khalifa Sall in a televised debate. Unfortunately the Mayor of Dakar, which was to be strong enough arguments to deal with Aminata Touré, preferred ... dodge the debate. Could have been through this type of debate, which would be a first in the annals of political history of Senegal, have the opportunity to bring a more democratic system.
Unfortunately, we still missed the mark. In Senegal continues in invectives, low blows and punches. Senegalese democracy is really sticking. It is up to the Senegalese political class and civil society to find remedies if you do not want to find a laggard democratic countries in the subregion.
A word ... For voters to make the right choices on June 29. The most deserving win. Good luck to all candidates.
Harouna FALL
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