HIGHLIGHT
Panel Discussion on: The US Electoral
Process and Presidential Election: Perspectives for Africa
WARC,
Dakar, 3 November 2008
To better help local people better understand
the US electoral process and gauge the stakes involved
in the current presidential race in America the Senegalese
Alumni Association grouping Senegalese recipients and
awardees of State Department scholarships, in collaboration
with the West African Research Center (Warc) and the
US embassy, organised a panel discussion on the above
topic Monday November 3, 2008. The event took place
at the West African Research Center from 3:30pm to 6pm.
The panellists were:
- Senior Minister Serigne Diop, Professor of Law at
University Cheikh Anta Diop (Ucad), Moderator
- Cheikh Amadou Dieng, Professor of American Civilisation,
Department of English, Ucad
- Yoro Dia, Senior reporter and political analyst
- Ousmane Sene, Professor of American Literature, Ucad
and Director of the West African Research Center.
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The panellists: Pr Sene, Mrs Catherine Diop, Pr Serigne
Diop, Pr Cheikh Dieng and the journalist Yoro Dia (L-R)
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After
giving the floor to the representative of the US embassy
and the Director of the Center to allow them to welcome
and thank the panellists and the public, Professor Serigne
Diop, the moderator and specialist of political law extensively
and expertly discussed American legislation in the political
arena. He then gave the floor to reporter and political
analyst Yoro Dia who made very knowledgeable development
on the various international issues likely to be on the
agenda of the next president of the United States. He
said that Africa would feature on the agenda but insisted
on the need for Africa to start putting her own stamp
on world affairs.
A view of audience
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Professor Dieng reviewed the history of
human and civil rights in the Usa and concluded that the
Obama episode may not be a denouement but a major landmark
in the political and social history of the United States
Professor Sene discussed the technicalities of the electoral
vote while decoding for the audience the various messages
and scenes of the campaign as reported by the US media.
A lively exchange between panellists and audience subsequently
took place and the event attended by over 100 people wrapped
up at 6pm. It should be noted that, over the last months,
the West African Research Center has substantially contributed
to familiarising the Senegalese people with the US political
system and US international policies. The Director has
been invited to dozens of TV and radio programs focusing
on the 2008 US presidential election. He also will be
among the guests invited by the US Ambassador on election
night to discuss the process and results for the local
media coverage.
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Another view of the audience
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