Singer enters Senegal's presidential race
By Tamba Matthew
Revered in his home country as a music icon, it remains to be seen whether Mr N'Dour can turn listeners into voters in a politically savvy country with well established parties and leaders, including a vibrant opposition.
"Youssou N'Dour has the capacity to reach sections of the population, particularly among urban youth that some other politicians might not be able to reach," said Paul Melly of the London-based Chatham House Africa programme.
"But his ability to translate that into an effective political campaign is of course untested."
On the streets of the bustling capital Dakar, some say they were surprised by Mr N'Dour's announcement Monday night, many applaud him for throwing his hat into the ring, but most feel his bid is too late to make a difference this year.
"He is not a head of state, he is an artist," said a security guard in downtown Dakar, asking not to be named.
However he conceded some might vote for him to avoid the re-election of Wade and "violation of the constitution" he is accused of in seeking a third term in office.
Youssou
N'Dour, left, with Sudanese mobile phone pioneer Mo Ibrahim.
"It is a
novelty," says insurance salesman Djibril Diop. "But let's keep our
feet on the ground. In the past Senegal
has known its leaders as intellectuals. It is good to try but he belongs to the
future. Time will tell for him."In a country whose first post-independence president Leopold Sedar Senghor was a leading poet and academic, N'Dour recognised that his lack of higher education was a shortfall.
But in declaring his "supreme patriotic duty" on his privately-owned television station Monday night, Senegal's most famous export said he had heaps of experience to bring home.
"I have studied at the school of the world. Travel teaches as much as books."
N'Dour has emerged as an outspoken critic of Wade, whose bid for a controversial third term in office has opposition and civil society groups fuming, and tensions have led to violent clashes in recent months.
"I have listened, I have heard, and I am responding favourably," N'Dour said, referring to numerous requests that he throw his hat into the political ring.
Clashes between the ruling party and opposition at the end of December left one person dead and three injured, pointing to heightened tensions in the run-up to the poll.
Mr N'Dour, 52, announced at a concert in November that he had put performing on hold and formed his own political movement, Fekke ma ci bolle ("I am involved" in the Wolof language).
Hailed as one of the world's greatest living singers, N'Dour has achieved huge international success with his mixture of Senegal's popular Mbalax music style with samba, hip-hop, jazz and soul.
He was born in October 1959 in Dakar's populous Medina suburb to a modest family and is an icon in his home country.
In his declaration, N'Dour said his campaign would include initiatives for peace in the troubled southern Casamance region, good governance, as well as agricultural and social development projects.
Wade was first elected president in 2000 for a seven-year term, and re-elected in 2007 for five years after a constitutional reform shortened presidential terms.
In 2008, the seven-year term was re-introduced, raising confusion over whether Wade had exhausted his two-term limit. The opposition says yes, he says no, and the constitutional court will rule on the issue later this month.
Some 20 candidates will be taking part in the election.
Meanwhile, France has expressed 'grave concern' over politically motivated violence in Senegal ahead of next month's presidential polls and urged President Wade to immediately stem the tide.
"President Wade should do all within his powers to immediately forestall a recrudescence of violence in Senegal as we contemplate on urging our citizens to avoid travelling there," a French government spokesman said.
Reacting further on the political situation in Senegal, the local media quoted Mr Bernard Valero as saying that his government was even considering to issue a new security warning to its citizens residing in Senegal.
In Mr Valero's comments on the Foreign Ministry website (www.ambafrance-sn.org), he said "we will continue to closely monitor the situation and have already noted the incidents of shootings culminating in the death of young lad".
It can be recalled that several violent confrontations have occurred between the civil society-backed opposition and riot police which threw tear gas at demonstrators who blocked streets and burned tires in Dakar last week.
No comments:
Post a Comment