ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 356 - 15/11/1998

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS

Senegal

Spotlight on present-day society

by Alain Agboton, Senegal, September 1998

THEME = SOCIAL CONDIT.

INTRODUCTION

Pointers to four different aspects of life in Senegal.
This will help towards understanding the country,
its culture and the challenges it has to face in the modern world

I - Women and globalisation - In mid- September this year, about fifty experts and researchers, most of them women coming from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean Islands, gathered in Dakar, Senegal, for a three-day seminar on the theme: "Gender, Globalisation and Human Development". Their findings are somewhat alarming: Although women are greatly involved in producing things, when it comes to having a say in how production is to be carried out and controlled, then they're completely left on the sidelines. They don't get much in the way of salaries and access to decent social benefits is none too easy. Senegal's economy is eventually going to be liberalised; free competition will be a fact of the country's economic situation; maximum profits will be sought.
What part will our womenfolk have to play in all this? What effect will their traditional upbringing and the fact that many are illiterate have on their position in today's society? Will they fall even lower on the social scale? Poverty and human destitution among the poor people of the world is worsening, especially in Africa. Inequality between sexes does nothing to improve the situation. The seminar was organised by The Association of African Women for Research and Development (AFARD). In so doing, AFARD wanted to emphasise that women have paid a high price, both in the social and the economic order, for macroeconomic (large economic decisions made up of different sectors) decisions. They are victims of violence and wars perpetrated by African men who are afraid of losing their political power. African women shoulder the whole burden of a crisis that is weighing on society. A burden which prevents today's society from working together to create feasible economic growth.
Globalisation is a real threat for African economies. Our continent has to come up with a new model of endogenous development. This is why it was decided to create an African committee of women experts to tackle such issues as "Gender, Globalisation and Human Development", and the means whereby African women can act as "watchdogs" on international financial institutions. A real plan to combat women's exclusion from the present social order, was thus put in place. Delegates pinpointed what is lacking in order to achieve their aims. Strategies and techniques were established, to strengthen their ability to act in given circumstances so that results can be attained.

II - Feminine revolution for the year 2000 - What's in it for women, as the year 2000 draws ever- closer? Not long ago, the Ministry for the Family, Social Action and National Solidarity organised a seminar, to study in detail changes that should be made to improve Senegalese women's standards of living, and the right to make their demands heard.
The seminar clearly stated which laws reduce women's standards, and sought to find ways of harmonising Senegal's laws with UN conventions dealing with abolishing all forms of discrimination. Legislation such as the Labour Code, the Family Code, The Nationality Code, and questions concerning feminine mutilation, were examined with a fine tooth-comb. The seminar and workshops resulted in several ground-breaking recommendations:

III - Discussion about polygamy - In Senegal, it's hard to be faithful to one's spouse! If you believe a recent report in a local newspaper, eight husbands out of ten are unfaithful to their wives. Senegal is 90% Muslim and a little more than 50% polygamous. These figures should be kept in perspective. Anyway, what's it all about? Women say it's because men can't control themselves and because Senegalese women are elegant and attractive - real temptation for men! Infidelity is not always synonymous with lack of love. Both sexes can be guilty of infidelity.
About two years ago, a major controversy swept across Senegal. Two universities made a study and suggested that polygamy be limited to two wives (instead of four as "allowed" by the Coran). The whole debate is going to be revived, at least in Senegal. An amendment will be added to the African Charter on Human Rights demanding the banning of polygamy. This is the result of a recent survey carried out by organizations for the defence and the advancement of women's rights and by non-governmental organisations specialising in human rights.

IV - 900 Islamic associations - The Interior Minister in charge of Religious Matters and Associations says that in Senegal, there are 900 Islamic associations describing themselves as following the precepts of the Coran. These associations are said to have about 3.5 millions members - about 45% of the country's population (which is 90% Muslim). Many are attached to religious brotherhoods such as the Mourides and the Tidianes. Some of these associations are not legally recognised but that does not stop their activities.
These religious organisations are active in such fields as education, teaching Arabic and theology, social and humanitarian work. Most of these associations were founded during the first years of independence. Others came about during the agitation of the Iranian Islamic Revolution which described the western world as "degraded" and drew attention to "the rebirth of Islam". The associations are not equally represented throughout the country, but they have received billions of CFA francs from Saudi Arabia, the Emirate States, Koweit and Iran. In addition to this financial help, there's also members' subscriptions.
These associations are a much-felt major social force, and a political force to be reckoned with when it comes to elections. On such occasions, the associations' leaders are sucked up to by the politicians. The Mourides are often given a "ngiguel" (an order to vote) for the governing Socialist party. Although this year, it didn't happen in the May parliamentary elections. Two major figures in these brotherhoods, Modou Kara and Moustapha Sy (belonging to different brotherhoods) are considering their candidature for the elections to be held in the year 2000. The activism of these Islamic associations is really extraordinary.

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