By Editor Alhagie Mbye, Our London Bureau Chief
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As the immigration debate rages in Europe, President Abdoulaye Wade has told the popular French TV Network France 24 that his government is fully in support of immigration regulations between Senegal and Europe because, according to him, it is the only way to benefit both countries. However, Wade who has been hailed by journalists as overseeing one of the most democratic countries in the African continent, stated that such regulations must not only be based on mutual respect and understanding, but at the same time dealt with care and caution.
During his interview with the famous network monitored by this correspondent, the Senegalese President outlined with confidence that immigration is not a specific problem for Senegal alone but that of the whole world. As a result, he indicated that his government is doing its best to make sure that it is properly regulated.
President Wade said: ‘Immigration is a problem that concerns the whole world…however what we are more concerned about is wildcat immigration, unofficial illegal kind of immigration which does not respect the independence of other States’. He revealed that due to this important fact, it was the reason behind him citing his government’s recent agreement with countries like Spain and France.
The Senegalese President also revealed that urgent consideration was also given to his people and that currently Spain is offering his countrymen jobs at various levels as well as trying to get immigrants to regularise their papers. He added that this will help his people to study as well gain the respect they deserved. Therefore, he said he accepted regulations which are very good for the Senegalese and further pointed out when certain European countries allowed its citizens to migrate in large numbers to the United States.
Speaking on the reason behind the stability and good governance in his country compared to other African states, the Senegalese President also explained that he strongly believes that such peace, tranquility and democracy has to do with the country’s history, tradition, culture and religion. He stressed the Senegalese’s political history dating back to the colonial era and gave lots of credit to his country’s past.
Soon after his interview, a special debate on whether Senegalese democracy and stability has to do more of its history than its contemporary politics, Ziad Limam French journalist from the Afrique Magazine and Claude Waulhier journalist and specialist on African Affairs both accepted that there is not much of a divide between religion and ethnic groups in Senegal. The experts also commended the Senegal’s overwhelmingly Muslim population who are not only tolerant and peaceful but also and clever and fully aware of the price of peace.
During the debate, experts acknowledged that good leadership starting from previous Presidents such as Senghore who despite being a Christian was honoured and respected by the Senegalese, followed by former President Abdou Diouf who conducted a peaceful transition when he was defeated in a free and fair elections had also contributed immensely to Senegalese democracy.
The journalist pundits also acknowledged the existence of various political parties in Senegal who they said freely operates in the country including a vibrant media who constantly criticises the government on all intensity whenever mistakes are made.
This correspondent covered the general election that brought Wade to power and can indeed attest to that fact of free press. Independent international observers also told me during and after the process that it was the ‘most transparent’ election ever conducted in Africa.
According to the experts, with President Wade moving on and respecting the principle of good governance and the rule of law, such stability remains and that the people of Senegal must be applaud for that achievement.
Specialist in African affairs as well echoed President Wade statement regarding the country’s rich culture, tradition and good politics including its idea of sending Senegalese’s Members of Parliament to Paris which had ‘founded the tradition democracy and was nurtured’.
The bravery of the Senegalese people was also outlined recalling traditional leaders who fought the French Army resulting to severe difficulty to conquer its former colony. Claude Waulhier said: ‘The conquest of Senegal was very difficult one even though it involved France’s most famous general of that time. During the 18th Century the French fought many battles to conquer Senegal but were repelled in many occasions’.
The idea of the French revolution by sending in peace troops which Senegal was the only country to do so before the First World War was also mentioned. It is a country having great pride to itself, with no ethnic conflict while religion embraces the whole country with secular and tolerance people is an important factor with no coups or attempted coups experts said.
According to speakers, natural resources such as gold and diamond found in neighbouring countries also have some interconnection with social conflicts because wealth in areas with such natural resources to grab alongside with extreme poverty and little resources in other parts of those countries fuelled civil strives. Such places are also difficult to manage in times of crises and such complexity is huge burden for those countries.
As far as economic conditions are concerned, experts argues that Senegal is not a rich country and have for long relied on peanut which has been the former French colony’s wealth but at the same time emphasised the underlying factor of the county’s hardworking and aware population. Even though many of its citizens are living on a dollar a day it have regards for the rule of law and democracy. There is not much ‘scandalous fortunes by business or private individuals’ and that traders and scholars from the north and other parts of the region and beyond as far as the middle east do business and connect together for a very long time.
By trying to raise the standard of living of the Senegalese, the government is attracting investors and big businesses in Europe and United States by given due regards to stability, good governance, rule of law with a vibrant and free press. The experts also argues that nevertheless not everything is rosy and blossom in Senegal but still fair to conclude that it is a shinning democracy in the continent and need more assistance from international partners in many aspects including immigration.
A Senegambian observer said that the ‘Basa or Bargsah’ theory literally meaning (Barcelona or death) by many Senegalese travelers using open boats to illegally enter the European Union is a cause for concern and must be seriously tackle with urgency before it is too late.
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