Thanks Bro Omar & Joe for the salient points. It has been really a debate on this here.
For the New Year, I wish everyone the best of what you wish for yourself.
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC1012-4413
Kind Regards & thanks,
Yero.
There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:19:59 -0600
Omar, thanks for your comments and we are in agreement on the whole. The term resource redistribution does not only mean what is generated from Casamance only. Development should be equitably distributed for any country to progress. When loans are taken they are taken for and on the head of all of Senegal, not just one section. When revenue is collected it is not just revenue to develop the north. When aid is given it is not given primarily to be channelled to the north. When debts are paid, they are paid by all tax payers. You take food coming from the south out of the Senegalese economy and we would not be talking about Senegal as we know it now. That is what I mean by resource redistribution. Since independence nothing has changed, thus, do the math. You are right, Casamance is very diverse, ethnically, however, all are marginalized, not just Jolas. All the claims about secession and autonomy by the MFDC are just ploys. This conflict started because of the blatant imbalance between the north and the south in terms of resource allocation. Successive Senegalese governments took off from where France left. The south was not handled easily like the north by the French thus, the genesis of the marginalization.
Like I said, you take resource allocation out of it, there is nothing left to fight for. Now, what folks do not want to discuss is the reason why something as simple as resource redistribution to inject energy in the south is frowned upon. Successive governments in Senegal know they cannot handle the pressure from the north. And as long as the conflict is not a full blown out war there is no urgency on the part of the government. There is also no urgency on the part of the MFDC because it is the people in the middle that suffer. I passively mentioned religion being used as a tool to maintain the status quo. Both sides of the conflict convinced themselves that they are different and that is what the rest of the world print on their websites. You sit with any Senegalese however, they will tell you they do not support this conflict and it must end. It is those that are in control that maintain the problem. Now, watch the fireworks from the north when a Senegalese President is brave to address equitable distribution of resources and you will see the political fallout that will ensue. There is a reason why this conflict has festered this long. Economic marginalization is at the center of many intra-country conflicts in Africa, whether it is Sudan, Nigeria, IC, Congo, etc., and the conflict in Casamance is just one such case. If that was not the case, Casamance would have operated just like any region in the north
As for Yaya, Wade knows what to do, thus, it is his business to continue to play games with him. Wade has really turned out to be a disgrace and disappointment not only for Senegal. Senegal is struggling big time and the geezer does not seem to have any solution. Good points though.
Joe
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:58:55 +0000
Yero,
This is serious discussion, and the issues involved are very sensitive. Our brother Joe has come up with a structured approach in dealing with them.
The Wade issue is interesting. I still remember how Senegalese were enthusiastic about him and the politics of "alternance" which had just brought him to power at the time of my arrival in Dakar, in April 2000. The forces for change were powerful, but I am not sure that if Abdou Joof had not forced Tanor Jeng (a relative) on The Socialist Party (PS) as his heir apparent, that Wade would have ascended to the presidency. The anointment of Tanor fractured the ruling PS to the point where it was impossible for Abdou Joof to garner more than 50% of the votes in the first round of voting.
At the time of the presidential poll in 2000, most of the Senegalese political landscape was covered by Parties of Socialist orientation. The Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) could not have realized the election of Wade to the presidency without the collaboration of some of them. The only thing those Socialist Parties had in common with Wade and his PDS, was their desire to remove Joof and his cronies from power. In terms of political ideology, there was a massive gulf between them, which immediately manifested itself when in the post election period Wade's desire to privatize key industries became apparent. This pursuit was natural for him because he had never subscribed to the state control of industries as had been advocated by the Socialist Parties. This is one reason, the Wade presidency was more popular in The United States of America (US) than France in its early days.
As regard Karim Wade as a potential successor to his father, Wade's own political manipulations have inadvertently destroyed his sons chances. The power brokers in PDS who had the political clout to successfully back such an agenda have since fallen out with Wade. Karim does not stand a chance in the immediate post Wade era, but depending on his father's successor's performance, he may stand a chance later.
The Cassamance issue is of paramount importance, not only to The Gambia and Senegal, but to the rest of Geographical SeneGambia. The Cassamance has tremendous potential to contribute towards the socio-economic development of the whole region, but I wish to differ with other commentators that it is being exploited for the benefit of northern Senegal. The economic resources of Cassamance are so marginally developed that the benefits that can be transferred to develop any other area of Senegal are just non-existent. Such arguments are ultra -conservative, and they insinuate an ethnic construct in which the north is Wolof and the south (Cassamance) is Jola. This is a misconception, and a brutal machination to divide a people who are brothers and sisters. The cassamance conflict was so constructed along ethnic lines that initially when Serer and Fulbe elements within The Senegalese army were captured by secessionist MFDC fighters, they were teased and set free.
I will not dispute that there are elements from other ethnic groups within the ranks of The MFDC, but their number is so minute that nobody speaks of them. In fact the MFDC has been less successful because it has reduced itself to a Jola thing, in an area where there is a considerable number of people from other ethnic groups.
The Cassamance conflict is a fratricidal war; we are all losers in it, and its painful to those with conscience, because it involves brothers killing each other. I understand why Joof was never hawkish in dealing with the issue. Wade may have been at the beginning of his reign, but he was bitterly criticized by sections of The Human Rights Fraternity in Senegal. If Yaya thinks he can be a catalyst to victory for The MFDC through war, then he is making a fool of himself. Its only our own brothers who are being killed: MFDC Jolas and Jolas in The Senegalese army!
Best of regards,
Omar Joof.
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:54:37 -0600
Bro Joe,
This is a very enlightening piece. You must have taken your time in addressing things in-depth. I’ve learnt new things on this post of yours. Jokingly, don’t let Wade hear of this. [lol].
First, to acknowledge that Wade’s grooming of his son (Karim) as future leader of Senegal is high talk in Senegal, but Karim couldn’t even do well in the lower level elections, so I personally doubt he will push in for the presidency, but you never can know for sure.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200711260595.html
Second, without mincing of words, development in some parts of Senegal (especially many regions of Cassamance) is far from it.
Third, I am surprised that Wade with all his exterior face as a panafricanist doesn’t want to see an end to conflict in the region. I am also surprised that you said he is looting the Senegalese economy.
I don’t know what the future holds for the region, but in my heart, I support an independent Cassamance. Apparently, it looks like that is not a talk, similar to Ethiopia and Eritrea. What is driving the economy is found in Cassamance, so Senegal cannot let go. The resources of Cassamance are in turn used to develop Senegal, while the rest of villages and hamlets in Cassamance continually remain at absolute poverty, and at the very mercy of lacking basic amenities.
The biggest respect that Wade scored in my view is his upholding of respect for Gambians exiting the Gambia in fear reprisal by the Jammeh regime, especially the hundreds of innocent ones that flee persecution. I know this contributes to Jammeh’s grudge against Wade in no small way. To that, I say suck it up Jammeh.
On the flipside, I think Wade suspected from the onset a person like Jammeh will sponsor arms to in order to support and straighten his base. This is a point of concern, because there is seemingly much evidence coming that supports this theory. Just to add, I know Jammeh is a Jola, but that doesn’t influence his support of Cassamance, especially with the known fact that Cassamance is predominantly of Jolas. Jammeh would have still done what he is currently doing if it was predominant of other tribes. I support a thorough investigation on the intercepted arms in order to get to the bottoms of things. I believe in the end, Jammeh’s skeletal nibs in the cupboard will be greatly exposed. I hope if Wade had a similar dirty hand, that his’ will be exposed as well. We cannot afford being in disability as a result of selfish leaders. History has it that Gambia and Senegal are one. Even with the colonial boundary, the culture, language, religions, and everything else remains unaltered.
In the end, nice capture of comparing Wade and Jammeh –I guess ‘apples to oranges.’ I agree that Jammeh’s human rights records are honestly gross and beyond honest thinking.
Thanks you Joe. I have been greatly enlightened by your piece. Keeps the fire burning.
Kind Regards,
Yero
There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:13:04 -0600
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
To: [log in to unmask]
Yero, the conflict in Casamance could have been solved a long time if the Senegalese government was interested in doing that and if they were serious in holding Gambia accountable. Wade had an opportunity and still has an opportunity to solve Casamance. The question is, why is he not doing that. On Wade's part, he has twenty odd years of being aware of the problem when Senghore and Joof were in power, only to come to the scene and do worse than them. Both the Senegalese government and the MFDC are holding the people hostage. You have been to Ziguinchor and have seen how dilapidated the place is and you have seen the conditions of the people. It is way worse when you stray away from the center into villages planted with mines from both sides and amputees all over the place. The region needs development badly and one way the government can turn the tide to their favor is to begin to change the lives of the inhabitants. Instead, Wade thought it wise to channel funds to few commandos to play divide and conquer. The second issue is it is a question of resource distribution which the folks up north who have been enjoying the lion share of the pie since independence will die rather than redistribute. Third, we all know Wade is interested in only two things in his life currently, die as president the reason why he is putting up monuments all over the place and some how believes that after he is gone Senegal will remember him and cry for him to eternity. Running very close to that he wants to impose Karim on Senegal after he is gone. He is now battling with the realization that Karim does not stand a chance the moment he takes his last breath and he knows that the first blow will come from the very folks that surround him today. That still has not slowed him down, even if the weather changes from intense summer heat to a slightly cooler breeze, Mom and Dad praise Karim the Builder and Creative for having a hand in it.
Regarding the relationship between Wade and Yaya, Wade has transformed himself into a criminal in his own right and he is looting the Senegalese coffers just like Yaya. Senghore used to joke with the Senegalese that the day they allow this rabbit handle their affairs they will appreciate what he has been saving them from. The only difference between Wade and Yaya is the Killings and the disappearances by Yaya. If it is using the coffers as his personal property they are one and the same. If it is harassing and locking up journalists, they are one and the same. Folks up north are protesting daily for various reasons - electricity, water, etc. Wade is slowly twisting the arms of the Judiciary. Because if Wade did not manifest his criminal behavior, he knew that Yaya is knee deep in the Casamance conflict. Wade also knows that Gambia's arms are housed in Kanilai (same as Casamance). After Senegal helped Bissau to get rid of Manneh, Yaya was their main supplier. The same time weapons were coming from Libya to Gambia for Liberia and Sierra Leone, some of those weapons were headed for the MFDC and we all know that this conflict really took an ugly turn when Yaya came into the scene. Wade is not interested in addressing this conflict just like his predecessors because it is easier for him to let it fester to avoid dealing with the north who are afraid of what a resource redistribution would mean for them and their electorate up north. We all know how challenging life is for the average Senegalese in the north, now add to it that some of the little trickling to the marginalized would now have to be channelled to the south. This conflict started because of resource redistribution and it will end because of resource redistribution. The same old scheme on the part of the government and the MFDC is at play. Wade, like Senghore and Joof would say we want to develop Casamance, but the MFDC is disrupting our plans and making it difficult for us to work. Mean while development still stays in the north. The MFDC in turn say to the people, you see, the government is playing games with you and have no plans of developing our lot, thus, we would rather die than allow them to be comfortable here. In the mean time we will use you to feed our troops. Thus, they wait until fields are planted or ready to be harvested to attack and empty the villages. All the harvest is their's and they are into selling everything form timber to crops, to Cashews, you name it. When the harvest is over, the target is traders, shopkeepers, travelers, and house raids in villages and chickens, livestock and everything is game. They will have enough food to continue with this conflict to eternity because of the set up. This conflict will end when Senegal has a President that is willing to withstand the pressure from the north for resource redistribution. Incidentally, it is the same story that is unfolding in IC, Nigeria, Congo, etc. You take resource redistribution out of the picture and there is nothing left to fight about. We may not realize it but Gambia had a similar challenge when everything was concentrated in the Banjul and Kombos. When the franchise was extended to the interior did the interior begin to have access to the pie.
So, to view this crisis as the Muslim North and traditionalists South schism as some would like to phrase it is misinformation. Religion plays a role only because it is a tool to maintain the status quo. The heart of the matter is resources, as Bill Clinton would say, it is the economy stupid!
Joe
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:39 -0600
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
To: [log in to unmask]
Bro Joe,
I understand your take on Wade. Like you, I believe that the composition of the Cassamance rebels is not only Jolas, but other tribes alike in the sub region. It happens that I visited Ziguinchorr last year. I was informed that the situation was getting normal, especially with the security checkpoints enroute the region.
On a more serious note, you would have to excuse my ignorance, especially regards to Wade. I would like to know what his own contribution is towards the sub region’s conflict. For one, from your post, I understand that Wada is guilty by association to Jammeh.
On Jammeh's part, confessions from soldiers on Radio Freedom confirmed his active participation in the sub region’s conflict, namely Guinea and Cassamance with regards to hypocrisy, trade in arms and cocaine, while masquerading himself as a panafricanist in the front view.
One can only hail the recent developments exposing Jammeh’s hidden agenda of continuing to destabilize the region. You are right that Sintet is close to the border, but a conflict doesn’t leave any person safe. I can only pray, like the Ollofs would say, “kuppu sih kawi borom saitani-yee.”
Yero.
There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:53:08 -0600
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
To: [log in to unmask]
Laye, Sah Tomaa Neh Mor Yaya Mbokalange. This is what he gets. Wade is on record to call Yaya a great adherent of democracy and rule of law. Democracy is at works and now he is feeling what Gambians have been feeling with this criminal.
Joe
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: [>-<] FW: Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:42:35 -0600
Mining-mining tafal-tafal, ah labang dulah, toh nyah.
Jammeh is sent to his cage again, hue, hue, hue!
Yero.
There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:28:57 +0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd:Senegal rebels armed with new weapons
To: [log in to unmask]
It looks like the Senegalese Army launched an offensive on the MFDC to prove a point - they have new weapons provided by Kanilai - and who knows what their next move would be?
-Laye
=====================================================
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Senegal-rebels-armed-with-new-weapons-20101228
Senegal rebels armed with new weapons2010-12-28 21:27
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Dakar - Separatist rebels in Senegal's Casamance region have acquired new weaponry, including rocket launchers and mortars, a military source said on Tuesday after an attack in which seven soldiers were killed.
"It is certain that they (rebels) have new equipment which they did not before, such as rocket launchers, mortars and machine guns," a Senegalese military official told AFP.
"These are weapons that are generally held by traditional armies," the source added, without specifying the source of such equipment.
Local newspaper Le Quotidien ran a headline on Tuesday saying: "Guerrilla's firepower worrying army chief."
"The weaponry used by the rebels in Casamance has raised questions within the military hierarchy. It has been discovered that the guerrillas are using heavy artillery and are shelling in the same way as the army," the newspaper said.
A cache of Iranian arms recently discovered in Nigeria on their way to Gambia, raised fears in Senegal that they were destined for fighters from the the MFDC (Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance).
The shipment triggered diplomatic tensions between Tehran, Dakar and Banjul and Senegal withdrew its ambassador from Tehran after concerns "these weapons could end up in Senegal, in the hands of fighters who do not want peace".
The Senegalese army said on Tuesday it was carrying out search operations in the Casamance a day after losing seven soldiers during a battle with presumed seperatist rebels.
Sporadic outbreaks of violence persist in Casamance despite a peace accord signed in 2004.
Security forces fear the MFDC is preparing to step up its operations in the coming days as it marks the anniversary of the outbreak of the rebellion in December 1982.
A rich agricultural region with lush forests and white stretches of beach, development has been stunted in the Casamance area - a strip of land cut off from the rest of Senegal by Gambia.
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