Saturday, February 24, 2007

Tomorrow is Election Day

That's the big news (that and my Senegalese god-daughter will be named tomorrow). There is some interesting info on the elections here: BBC provides short synopses for 10 of the 15 Presidential candidates.

Here is a blatant personal opinion regarding these elections and all the hype coming from within senegal and from the US. Whether or not these elections are fair and transparent, I really don't think that there is much to worry about. Everything we hear is about threat of violence or corruption, etc. In reality, I think the transition (or retention) of power will pass just as peacefully as anything else here. It certainly will not surpass your average school strike or rowdy soccer game. And as far as corruption? the only thing rigging votes are lack of infrastructure and a new and completely untested voting system. So why did the US have to issue a press release asking pretty please Senegal will you have free and open elections? Yes. they are trying, it is not that simple.

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