Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Senegal: Protestsuceeds

thanks abdul
25% sounds like something less than hegemonic domination. it must represent a vertiginous drop since independence, don't you think?
the list of areas in which the french are important investors includes vehicles. count the number of japanese cars on the street compared with french, and you can see how things have changed.
on a different note, look at the condescending language used in the ny times to describe the President of Senegal: "a rabble-rousing professor"! and i suppose we are supposed to be happy the new york times even paid attention to senegal.
ken

On 6/25/11 1:48 AM, Abdul Karim Bangura wrote:

Mwalimu Harrow, the following URL will take you to Senegal's Investment Guide:  http://www.aabf.org/senegal_inv_guide.htm
More revealing from the Web site about the French economic hegemony in Senegal is the following:

Foreign Investment Statistics

The dearth of reliable investment statistics makes it difficult to provide a detailed breakdown of foreign direct investment in Senegal.

Although values of Senegalese subsidiaries or operations of foreign investors are sketchy, it is estimated that France is overwhelmingly the most important foreign investor and controls many sectors in the economy. Approximately 235 subsidiaries of French groups are present in Senegal. They account for 25 percent of all formal enterprises in Senegal. French investors are present in the major multinational import-export firms, shipping companies, banking, food production, mechanical engineering, tobacco, agribusiness, petroleum distribution, industrial equipment, vehicles, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, tourism and insurance. Privatizations in telecommunications and public utilities have confirmed and increased the predominance of France as Senegal's leading foreign investor. Bouygues is present in the water sector. French telecommunications operator France Telecom is the operating partner of SONATEL, Senegal's telecommunication company. Hydro Quebec and the French company Elyo bought out Senegal's power utility for USD 63 million, which has also made Canada a significant investor.


Bits and Pieces On Wade's Economic Policy Failures from NY Times:

Abdoulaye Wade, a rabble-rousing professor who, after decades in opposition to Socialist Party rule, sailed into office buoyed by the votes of frustrated young people like Mr. Gueye, who is now 32. They hoped that Mr. Wade, a free-market liberal, would transform this impoverished nation's economy, which had been stunted by generations of ineffective central planning.

But Mr. Gueye said he did not feel much better off now. He still has no regular job and gets by selling coffee on the streets. He said Sunday that he hoped to make about $15 selling his sugary brew at 10 cents a cup to early-morning commuters. "I had high hopes," said Mr. Gueye, his eyes hidden behind a pair of knockoff Ray-Ban sunglasses. "But now we are all disappointed."

There is no better indication of Senegal's economic desperation than the vast exodus of young people to Europe. At least 36,000 Africans, mostly young men from Senegal, headed for the Canary Islands as illegal migrants by sea last year, according to the Spanish government. At least 6,000 of those who attempted the desperate 850-mile crossing did not survive, yet thousands more wait for the next crossing season to begin, paying $1,000 or more for a seat in an open-decked fishing boat.

-----Original Message-----
From: kenneth harrow
Sent: Jun 24, 2011 6:30 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Leonenet] Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Senegal: Protestsuceeds

dear abdul
as i care a great deal about senegal, and have been greatly inspired by their successful revolt in the streets of the last few days, i wonder if you could substantiate a few of your claims below a bit more.
my impression had been of a very large-scale retreat of french investment since independence, with chinese and the eu taking the place of the french. there were 50,000 french in senegal in 1960, and now, i understand, 10,000 or fewer. no one was more pro-french than senghor, and diouf wasn't far behind. yet you say wade favored mostly french interests. i don't wish to argue your point, just want to know how you know that.
the deterioration of the senegalese economy: is it due to factors generally attributable to globalization, or is it senegalese failures. if the latter, what are they?
thanks
ken

On 6/24/11 8:41 PM, Abdul Bangura wrote:

Yes, Mwalimu Karmoh John Simbo, President Abdoulai Wade and I were good friends and supported his earlier agenda. But he committed the following sins that have made the overwhelming majority of the Senegalese population and I to turn against him:

 

(a) Wade sold out Ghaddafi to the US, France and Britain after all of the many wonderful things Ghaddafi had done for him personally and Senegal in general. Wade benefited from Ghaddafi's support beginning in 1974, when he headed the opposition party, until 2011, when the US, France and Britain bought him out. They were the leading partners for the creation of the Pan-Afrikan Union, a project that is very dear to Senegalese since the days of Cheikh Anta Diop.

 

(b) Wade began aching for more power and control by changing major aspects of the constitution and trying to force his son, who could not even win his own constituency, on the Senegalese populace.

 

(c) The once very vibrant Senegalese economy had been deteriorating for several years now, and the average Senegalese is bearing the brunt of Wade's very bad economic policies that favor mostly French interests.

 

(d) Wade fired his very brilliant and Pan-Afrikanist foreign minister Gadio while the latter was in the middle of a press conference.

 

Yes, Wade had to be stopped. But as all of the protesters said yesterday, Wade is still their President and will respect and treat him as such until the day his term of office expires.

 

In Peace Always,

Abdul Karim Bangura/.

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From:

To: leonenet@lists.umbc.edu;Abdul Karim Bangura

Cc: futatoro@gmail.com; mosi@africanconstitution.org; Bosire Mosi; mosi@usafrica2017.com; usa4usafrica@gmail.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Sent: 6/24/2011 5:50:06 AM

Subject: Re: [Leonenet] Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Senegal: Protestsuceeds

What, you changing sides? We haven't forgotten that you and Abdoulaye Wade are good friends. Can't wait for your take.
John

---

From: "Abdul Karim Bangura" <theai@earthlink.net>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com, USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: "leonenet" <leonenet@lists.umbc.edu>, futatoro@gmail.com, mosi@africanconstitution.org, "Bosire Mosi" <bosiremosi@gmail.com>, mosi@usafrica2017.com, usa4usafrica@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, 24 June, 2011 2:02:59 AM
Subject: [Leonenet] Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Senegal: Protest suceeds

It was a great day for us here in Dakar. I will give my own take when I return to base.

In Peace Always,
Karim/.

-----Original Message--. --- 
From: Toyin Falola
Sent: Jun 23, 2011 6:03 PM
To: USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Senegal: Protest suceeds

BBC

23 June 2011 Last updated at 14:52 ET

Senegal: Abdoulaye Wade drops poll plans after riots

Senegal's president has dropped proposed changes to the country's constitution after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters outside Dakar's parliament.
Abdoulaye Wade had wanted to reduce the proportion of votes needed to win a presidential election, and avoid a run-off, from more than 50% to 25%.
He had also wanted to create an elected post of vice-president.
The proposals sparked the most violent protests of Mr Wade's 11-year rule.
Critics had said the run-off amendment was designed to ensure that Mr Wade, 85, was re-elected next year against a fractured opposition.
He dropped that element of the proposed bill earlier on Thursday, but withdrew plans to create the position of vice-president after clashes continued outside parliament, Justice Minister Cheikh Tidiane Sy told MPs.
The president had taken into consideration MPs' concerns, AFP quoted Mr Sy as saying, adding to applause that: "He asked me to withdraw the draft legislation".
'Father's shoulders'
Earlier on Thursday, clouds of tear gas hovered over the square in front of the National Assembly, where lawmakers had gathered to vote on the proposed changes to the constitution.
The city centre was cut off as protesters set fire to vehicles and threw stones at riot police.
Local reports said some ruling party MPs had been blockaded in their houses to prevent them voting.
There were also violent protests elsewhere in the city and in other towns in Senegal.

Critics feared Abdoulaye Wade (l) will make his son (r) vice-president
Many people feared Mr Wade intended to give the post of vice-president to his son Karim, who is already a powerful minister in the current administration, said BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy.
Critics of the proposed measures said Mr Wade could have then stepped down and handed power to his son.
"We're not against Karim Wade," said protesting student Assane Ndiaye.
"Karim can be a candidate like any other, but he shouldn't be carried into office on his father's shoulders."
The government had said the proposed new post was aimed at reinforcing democracy by sharing power between the president and vice-president.
Riot police also clashed with protesters earlier this week.
The opposition had established a coalition called "Don't Touch My Constitution", while world-famous singer Youssou Ndour criticised the "abuse of authority".

Mr Wade first came to power in democratic polls more than a decade ago but he is now facing growing anger at daily electricity cuts and the rising cost of living.

--  

Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
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USA
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--  kenneth w. harrow distinguished professor of english michigan state university department of english east lansing, mi 48824-1036 ph. 517 803 8839 harrow@msu.edu

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--  kenneth w. harrow distinguished professor of english michigan state university department of english east lansing, mi 48824-1036 ph. 517 803 8839 harrow@msu.edu