Today is the day Senegal has been waiting for. Elections. It has been the cause of unrest in this country for the past 2 months. Many of you have contacted me, checking to make sure I am safe. Thank you so much for your prayers and concerns. The word on the street is that Senegal made its first big hit on CNN. I have not wanted to scare anyone while it is unnecessary, so I have kept these recent events on the down-low. Although, the international news must not have read my memo. Oops! My apologies. Here is my update and the facts from my point of view:
- Senegal is a democratic country and they are voting today for their next president. The people are angry and frustrated because their current president, Abdoulaye Wade, was approved to run for a third term on a technicality. The law states a president is only allowed 2 terms. Each term is for 7 years and Wade is already an aging man in his mid 80's.
- Riots? Yes, I will confirm that this situation has resulted in violent riots, but I feel the media has exaggerated things. The number of peaceful protests have outnumbered the ones that made the news. Is this a big deal? For Senegal, yes. This country has been known as one of the most stable and peaceful African countries, so this is a new shock to many. However, in comparison to the rest of the world, no, I do not believe so. A very small handful of people have been injured or lost their lives in the riots. The loss of any life, even one, is a big deal. Keep in mind though, I could name hundreds of other countries where the circumstances are less fortunate and the results far more tragic.
- Am I safe? Not once have I felt at risk. I have never even witnessed a riot. And when I say "riot", I do not want anyone to picture a war breaking out. I am in no means or manner running around dodging bullets. The "violent" riots have consisted of people throwing rocks and tear gas to disperse crowds, burning tires, and destroying cars. Everything seems surreal from my quiet little neighborhood. To put things into perspective, picture all this going on in downtown Dallas while you live in a suburb. That is about the equivalent. We know which areas of town to stay away from at certain times of the day.
- The days following the elections will be the most interesting and unpredictable. Will Wade be re-elected is the big mystery and question. We are not entirely sure what to expect, but here are some things we are prepared for: long power cuts, temporary shut-down of the internet and/or communication devices, and staying in the house for a few days if necessary.
I promise I will keep you all updated as best I can. I honestly feel there is no real reason to worry and that the elections will come and go like normal. I work with the Senegalese people every day; I know these people. They are kind hearted and hate violence, avoiding it all costs. I am leaving everything in God's hands and praying for continued peace over this country.
