Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – In front of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, his Malian counterpart Choguel Maïga dared to describe Senegal as a “theoretical democracy.” In a theoretical democracy, power is not lost through the ballot box, unlike in our country, where political turnover has become the essence of our democracy and a routine occurrence.

In such a democracy, elections are merely a tool for legitimizing power, as seen in places like North Korea, rather than an opportunity for true political competition like in Senegal, the United States, France, Benin, or Ghana. Neither Choguel Maïga’s provocative remarks nor Sonko’s complicit silence surprise me. Patriotism demands that one defends their country, the famous “right or wrong, my country.”

A true patriot cannot stand by while their nation is unfairly slandered. Sonko’s silence either reveals a lack of courage or aligns with his deep-seated beliefs, reflecting a project that negates Senegal and its values. Like his ally Choguel, he seems to regret that the recent insurrection failed to strip Senegal of its exceptional status, something that troubles some, including his Malian counterpart.

Fortunately for Senegal, our Defense and Security Forces crushed the insurrection, preserved the Republic, and guided those misguided Pastef supporters back to the legal path of opposition—the only legitimate route to power.

Unlike in Mali, where the military frequently intervenes in politics, Senegal has never experienced an unconstitutional power shift. “Suspending the Constitution” has become the trend in our subregion, but not in Senegal. A truly patriotic Prime Minister would have urged Choguel Maïga to focus on his own country’s issues.

Allowing Maïga to lecture us on democracy is an insult. Senegal favors democratic transitions over coups. We should not feel guilty that our established democracy functions well. In 2022, Senegal held three elections, followed by another in 2024, all leading to significant political changes, while Mali underwent two coups within six months and has not held elections in over a decade.

It is clear where the real “theoretical democracy” lies. The sovereignist and pan-Africanist rhetoric of Choguel Maïga and his supporters is merely an ideological façade to legitimize the failure of coups.

We are all Pan-Africanists, but we advocate for democratic Pan-Africanism, not the kind promoted by putschists. A noble cause should not be represented by such illegitimate advocates. The discourse on sovereignty and pan-Africanism is a smokescreen, concealing the failure of the coups and, for some, masking the “mercenary support” for Russia.

True sovereignty is not about switching one foreign master for another or criticizing Macron for not intervening in Senegal’s political crisis while welcoming Mélenchon. Sovereignty begins with the people’s will, which is being suppressed in Mali by a junta indefinitely postponing elections.

Mali was once a proud democracy, and like The Gambia, it will regain its democratic traditions once the military regime is swept away by the inevitable democratic wave, relegating figures like Choguel to the dustbin of history. Sonko’s legitimacy stems from his party’s electoral success, while Choguel Maïga is a political opportunist without democratic legitimacy, merely serving as an ideological mouthpiece.

Politicians who believe they can use the military as a vehicle for political power often face harsh awakenings. Senegal and Mali share deep ties, but our systems of governance are worlds apart. Our responsibility is to help Mali regain its democracy, not to make compromises to appease pan-Africanist activists.

Mr. Prime Minister, understanding history means recognizing that the surge of coups in West Africa is a temporary military phase before the return of democracy. Senegal, with its democratic transitions and progress toward economic emergence, is aligned with the course of history.

You should convey this to your friend Choguel. The return to democracy is the only salvation for the great Malian people, who are being held back by putschists, even though Mali once led the democratic movement in the region.

Senegal will remain at the forefront, despite our Prime Minister’s fascination with the coup-plotting rearguard, while the elites and people of these nations are drawn to the Senegalese democratic model, which challenges the hollow narratives of the putschists.

The evidence is clear: Senegal, through successive political transitions, is advancing towards prosperity, while Mali is stuck in a cycle of endless transitions. Choguel Maïga at least understands that our Prime Minister’s vanity allows him to tolerate insults against Senegal as long as it serves his personal political ambitions.

The Author, Yoro Dia is a Political scientist, CEO of Kys Group, Former Spokesperson of President Macky Sall and Communications Coordinator of the Presidency