Gambia Government Official's concerns on the situation in Senegal

 Statement provided to OPEN GAMBIA 22/03/2023 on condition of annonimity:

The term of the presidency in Senegal changed and not the term limit. It matters not if the term is 5 or 7 years. The term limit remains at a maximum of 2. The Senegalese constitution states that no one can serve more than two consecutive terms. President Sall has confirmed this in his book and speech. We have to stop intellectual dishonesty because it ends up being unintelligent and an insult to the intelligence of Senegalese and Africans. 

 

President Sall just finished his term as the AU chairperson. He was at the forefront of the fight to liberate Gambians post-2016 elections. Was he fighting for Gambians or to ensure a legacy of peace in cassamance? I do not want to sound ungrateful, but his principles and conviction displayed for all to see today are a far cry from those expressed in 2016 and 2017. 

 

What has changed, I ask? 

 

This is the president we all celebrated when his motorcade majestically rolled into The Independence Stadium for the swearing-in ceremony of President Adama Barrow. He even gave a speech on occasion. This is unprecedented. He provided sanctuary for President Adama Barrow to avoid potential elimination by Jammeh and his rogues. Provided sanctuary for Gambians fleeing during the impasse. 

 

President Sall was the poster boy for Democracy in West Africa, and I can even push it further to say, Africa? What changed? Petrol and Gas? 

 

Let’s now revisit all contracts signed with Senegal. We have lost the reexport trade to Senegal. Senegal underwrites our security. Millions of Dollars are paid to Senelec for electricity, paralysing our ability to invest in infrastructural development for an adequate power supply. 

 

These questions should be explored because the man we thought he was is no more. I hate to sound ungrateful, but let’s start to ask the right questions, and the government of the Gambia focus on weaning us from being Senegal's cash cow. I am all in for the bilateral cooperation; however, the ducks are not lining up. 

 

The images from Senegal are all too painful to watch. Seeing your neighbours slide into a dictatorship and the associated brute force is gut-wrenching. We had our fair share, and the wounds have still not healed. 

 

Johnson Salef and President Buhari, two of the trio involved and fighting for Gambians, have democratically handed over the baton ( Nigeria has a president-elect). We expect the same from President Sall. We want to be able to beat our chests and say despite the recent spate of coup d’etat Africa is still registering democratic gains. It’s still not late, and I pray that President Sall can mend the state of affairs through dialogue and respect for human rights.

 

When Senegal sneezes, we catch a cold. This is very much ours as it is theirs.

I hope the new security adviser will fast-track our security sector reform. I pray for peace in Senegal and Africa.

Article contributed by ANON GAMBIA GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL