I would have liked it to be the number of hundreds of patents registered, the number of thousands of new goods produced, the number of hundreds of thousands of jobs created, the number of millions of children in school, the number of hundreds of millions of people vaccinated, etc., but unfortunately it is proof that the rule of law and democracy have yet to be built in Africa.
This table is only the summit of Kilimanjaro, it does not show the false democracies that are legion in Africa.
It does not show the list of countries where a third mandate is attempted.
Finally, it does not show the list of countries where democratic changeover is taking place normally, where presidents hand over peacefully to their elected successors after a second term.
Let’s not give in to the Afro-pessimism that people want to inculcate in us to disarm us morally.
Let us be optimistic because the wind of change is blowing stronger and stronger!
I wish the students and teachers an excellent start to the school year.
Dakar, Monday 3 October 2022
Mary Teuw Niane
