Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade: I Said It. Now I Unsay It.

By ⋅ March 26, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
"Ma waxoone waxeet" I Said It. Now I Unsay It. (Photo: Marco Werman)

That’s the best translation of the Wolof phrase “Ma waxoone waxeet.” That’s what Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade commented last summer when he tried to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. He had previously promised not to run for another mandate, and when a journalist reminded him of that, he replied, yes, “I said that, but now I unsay it.”

The price paid for what amounts to a broken promise seems highly instructive. Wade was defeated yesterday in a dramatic runoff vote, which, on Saturday night, you’d have been hard-pressed to find any Senegalese not so nervous about the outcome that they’d been willing to predict it. But late Sunday night, Wade conceded to candidate Macky Sall.

Today Senegalese have rediscovered their smile. This joy hasn’t been seen since the victory of Senegal’s national soccer team over France in the first round of the 2002 World Cup.

I scoured more of the on-line chatter, and here are a few typical responses to Wade’s concession:

What time is it? Time for change in Senegal.

What a wake-up call to leaders across Africa.

Today I feel proud to be from Africa and to be born in a country that has been setting an example for democracy. Thank you Senegal.

Africa will have another former Head of State alive and not exiled. Used to be a rarity. Progress.

Also posted was this fact, and given the generation that is leaving power, it seems highly relevant.

Senegal’s president-elect Macky Sall is the first West African born after colonialism in 1960 to ride the ballot box into office.

Former State Department spokesman PJ Crowley pointed out that Wade worked hard to run for a third term, and the results of the vote don’t quite match his efforts.

President Abdoulaye Wade’s attempt to cling to power in Senegal has ironically strengthened democracy with his apparent runoff defeat.

One of the biggest criticisms many Senegalese had for Abdoulaye Wade was that it seemed clear he wanted to establish some kind of dynastic rule.

Last summer, Wade tried to amend the constitution to allow for a vice-president. Most suspect that would’ve been his son, Karim, who as a key minister in his father’s government, controls around 40% of Senegal’s budget. That prompted this query:

What next for Karim Wade? Will Senegal’s ex “Minister of Earth and Sky” face investigation or trial like Gamal and Saif?

And finally, on the cynical but realistic side, this was a comment on the BBC program, Africa Have Your Say that got a lot of retweets:

Fair point. And yet, today, we talk about it and write about it eagerly.


Discussion

One comment for “Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade: I Said It. Now I Unsay It.”

  • bell larson

      I am at bewildered and socked very much so indeed with the reckless disregard, the inconspicuous reporting in Senegal’s electoral events. Certainly the Senegalese people have shown the world and have indeed proven it to themselves they are among   the chosen ones.
      The poise, the self-assurance, the humility, the intellect, and decisiveness should undoubtedly be commended.
    Yet, we have heard little reporting here in the US. It is perhaps due to the low expectations the western world in particularly has toward poor ignorant Africa. Perhaps it was expected that the Senegal electoral result would erupt in violence; or Senegalese were incapable to conduct a peaceful and functional election. This is a reminder to all, westerners and non- western included that [those people] have something to teach us.
     
    Congratulation Senegal.
     
     Now!!!  The time has come to put those that have abuse their authorities ,  those  that breach their fiduciary and political obligations on trial, and if found guilty they should be imprisoned.