Senegal has been the example of democracy for Africa. In 2000 President Abdoulaye Wade overthrew in an election a socialist party with enthusiasm from supporters. Now many of those supporters and the citizens of Senegal are calling for a new leader. President Wade has served 12 years as president and many fear that he will keep on serving. In the article the main reason for the uproar is the "manipulation" of the elections. Many of the opposers to President Wade accuse him of a succession scenario and many limitations to the senegalese elections. Many ex-supporters of Wade are now claiming that he has become a greedy politician who "loves" politics. The author of the article, Pascal Fletcher, discusses the "patronage and spoils" system of politics in Africa. People in Africa do not generally become politicians to help people but they get into the field for money and power.
What is interesting to see in this situation is that democracy is not working for Senegal. The often misconception about democracy is that it will work anywhere. The solution, in most Americans' minds, to all of the countries' problems is to start a democracy. In Senegal's case they started out with a democracy that was considered an example for Africa. Now they are facing riots and have elections that are rigged. It is interesting to note that the freedom that democracy gives the country and people has actually lead to its own downfall. The politicians preach democracy but when no one is looking act the opposite. A very big problem that is hindering democracy in Africa, cited in the article, is that when countries like Senegal have elections it turns into mass blood shed. This allows the corrupt presidents to convince the public that they should extend his term or give him more terms. They are having to choose between the lesser of two evils. The question I propose is: Is democracy the best rubric for all countries in the world?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/us-senegal-elections-democracy-idUSBRE82C0F820120313
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