By Tumbul Trawally Seattle, USA
To those who second-guess or question the importance of having strong government institutions in term-limited democracies—the political impasse in Senegal, and its resolution in a peaceful manner—are your answer. When President Macky Sall wanted to subvert the constitution, the judiciary branch of government stood firm and refused to buckle under pressure. President Macky Sall would have gotten away with his desire to postpone the general elections as in any other African country, with the possible exception of Botswana, Namibia, or Mauritius. It is very similar to the government institutions not buckling under pressure when Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U. S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
Therefore, it is critical for any democratic government to have an independent judiciary that upholds the constitution of the country. Among the three branches of government: executive, legislature, and judiciary, the judiciary is the referee in governance. The politicians in the legislative branch cannot agree on the color of the sky, on any given day. They are more interested in self-aggrandisement and promotion.
In addition to having an independent judiciary, there should be a non-partisan civil service, military, and free media. These are the bedrocks of a democracy! We saw in Senegal how these entities played a vital role in averting a constitutional coup by President Macky Sall. The key entity that deserves a lot of praise is the military. They could have obeyed the wishes of their commander-in-chief; instead, they stayed neutral and telegraphed to the President that the constitution is their North Star and is [Supreme].
Holding elections during the Holy month of Ramadan is not ideal in a majority Muslim country such as Senegal. It underscores the Judicial Branch flexing its muscle and reassuring Senegalese that their government is [Secular], not a [Theocracy] like in Iran, with an “Ayatollah”, the “Supreme Leader.” As for President Macky Sall, the judiciary sent him a clear message: Senegal is not North Korea, with a “Dear Leader.” President Sall was a shoo-in for the Mo Ibrahim award for former African leaders who honor a Tterm-limited democracy: $500,000 annually for 10 years, and $200, 000 annually for the rest of their lifespan. It is a more generous pension package than that of a former U.S. president, British Prime Minister, or French President. After this debacle and loss of three lives, I am not sure if he would qualify.
I mentioned in one of my writings years ago, in which I urged The Gambia government to follow into Senegal’s footsteps—not Nigeria’s. Such unforeseen circumstances are the reason! The Senegalese military is a professional body. They are trained in all professional fields of society. As a result, they know there is a [life] after serving in the military. For a non-professional army, it is the opposite! All Sanna Sabally had to do to pull off a successful coup in The Gambia, in 1994, was the promise of a plot of land to the soldiers. The underpinning of a democracy is the adherence to the constitution—not the whims of a politician. The events of the past month in Senegal are a testament to the country’s political maturity. Not only The Gambia, I think every African country should emulate Senegal, in governance. As a Gambian, I am indifferent to whoever wins the Senegalese elections on Sunday, but Gambia will not be immune from turmoil in Senegal. Therefore, it is in our interest to have a free, fair, and peaceful elections in Senegal.