President Abdoulie Wade of Senegal has been accused of causing religious division amongst Senegalese, especially between the Mourits and Tijanias. The African senior statesman who is currently busy trying to reconcile dictator Mugabe with his opposition has been blamed for Senegal’s religious indifference. The accusations were made by Veteran Radio Broadcaster Souelayman Mboub. Mr. Mboup who was the Head of the Sud FM Radio Banjul charged that the Senegalese leader was partly responsible for Senegal’s religious difference. “My first reservation is that I don’t trust President Wade economically for all his achievements. That’s number one reason. Number two, the Senegalese society is now divided. People were not divided during President Diouf’s era in terms of religion. But today, Senegal has been unjustly and dangerously divided between Mourits and Tijans. We know such things under Abdou Diouf’s Government. But with Wade’s Government, there is a big division amongst religious leaders. There is a division between Mourits and Tijans. “ said the leading Senegalese Journalist. Mr. Moup says beside creating religious difference in Senegal, President Wade was also trying impose his son Karim Wade to Senegalese as his next successors. Mboup says Senegalese would strongly oppose such “civilized” way of monarchial rule. “By reading and listening to the news, what’s going on in Senegal, that’s absolutely what it sounds. I’m old, I’m tied and I’m going to live this country with my son and we are not going to take that.” said Mr.Mboup. Below is the full text of the part two version of the interview we had with Mr.Mboup.

 Freedom Newspaper: But the US State Department recently reported that democracy is flourishing in Senegal. In fact, Madam Bush visited Senegal as a manifestation that the Government in Senegal is respecting the political freedoms and liberties of citizens.

S Mboup: Senegal, unionism is something very important. The Gambia, probably you will never hear people going on strike, or may be it is once in a while. But in Senegal, is just like Paris, France.

Freedom Newspaper: No, what I’m talking about is that.. the US Statement Department says there is democracy in Senegal. What do you make out of that?

S Mboup: Absolutely, if they say that there is democracy in Senegal… Yes, people can still talk and all those things, but I don’t think that the democracy is as such that we should be rated just like that. What we know is that Senegal is being monitored by the State Department. Senegal being the gate way for Africa should work harder in promoting press freedom and democracy.

Freedom Newspaper: As a veteran Journalist, how would you rate the media situation in Senegal?

S Mboup: The media is doing good in Senegal. The Senegalese Government provides subvention for the Senegalese media each year, which is healthy in any true democracy. We have private televisions. We have private newspapers. As far as democracy is concerned, we are better than a lot of countries in Africa.

Freedom Newspaper: But what about the arrest of journalists and the Government’s move to compel journalists to reveal their sources and other stuffs? Will you call that press freedom?

S Mboup: On the issue of arrest of journalists, Governments clamoring for democracy should refrain from such undemocratic acts. Like as I told you, democracy starts with the freedom of the press. Abdoulie Wade recently masterminded the arrest of some journalists and had to intervene while in Paris to free them. That’s absolutely wrong. They should stop arresting journalists in Senegal. The Senegalese press should be allowed to operate freely without any undue interference from the Government.

The same thing is happening in the Gambia. As we speak, journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh is going to court. The Gambian state is dragging her case unnecessarily. It’s unconstitutional for the Gambian state to keep her in that country without cause. The judge had even confirmed that the actions of the authorities was unconstitutional. That if the state lacks evidence to try her, they should let her go.

Freedom Newspaper: Why do you oppose President Wade? Listening to your arguments, you sounds like you have a lot of reservations against President Wade’s Government. What are your reservations?

S Mboup: My first reservation is that I don’t trust President Wade economically for all his achievements. That’s number one reason. Number two, the Senegalese society is now divided. People were not divided during President Diouf’s era in terms of religion. But today, Senegal has been unjustly and dangerously divided between Mourits and Tijans. We know such things under Abdou Diouf’s Government. But with Wade’s Government, there is a big division amongst religious leaders. There is a division between Mourits and Tijans.

Freedom Newspaper: And who is responsible for the religious division in Senegal?

S Mboup: The third thing is that… a Government has to be replaced by the will of the people. We have to go to elections and elect somebody to lead this country. But you cannot impose somebody to the people as your next successor. I totally opposed such political move.

Freedom Newspaper: Who is going to be Abdoulie Wade’s successor?

S Mboup: He is grooming his son Karim Wade to succeed him by all means necessary. That’s what he is trying to do. Wade is trying to impose his son to the Senegalese people come what may, which is wrong.

Freedom Newspaper: And politically is Karim Wade charismatic? Is he in the position to win elections?

S Mboup: Karim doesn’t have the intellectual background to win an election. He doesn’t even have the political background to lead Senegal at all.

Freedom Newspaper: So you mean, President Wade is dictatorial?

S Mboup: That’s dictatorship. That is self dictatorship in my view. I’m not definitely calling him a dictator, but his actions suggest that he is trying impose monarchial rule in Senegal. Senegal is not a monarchy. Senegal is a democratic engine. It’s not a monarchy.

Freedom Newspaper: If you have the chance of meeting President Wade, what would you tell him?

S Mboup: I will tell him Mr.. President, let the people behind you express themselves . From the Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, down to the last man in his Government should be availed with the opportunity to succeed Wade. The entire Senegalese population should be allowed to decide who should succeed Wade. This is essential in our democratic set up. Power should emanate from the people and not an individual person. But you cannot impose your son to Senegalese. Senegalese should be able to freely decide who should lead them and not otherwise.

Freedom Newspaper: Are you really positive that President Wade wanted to retire from politics and hand over the country to his son?

S Mboup: That’s absolutely what it sounds. By reading and listening to the news, what’s going on in Senegal, that’s absolutely what it sounds. I’m old, I’m tied and I’m going to live this country with my son and we are not going to take that.

Editors note: We shall publish part three of the interview in our subsequent editions. Please stay tuned. Thanks for your attention.