Senegal’s leading role in solving Gambia’s political crisis has sealed its legitimacy to intervene and even interfere in Gambian affairs, first through its regionally mandated military force and now with its direct support for Gambia’s new president, notes Kamissa Camara (above), a senior program officer for Africa at the National Endowment for Democracy, the Washington-based democracy assistance group.
In order for the Gambian people to have ownership of their new government and institutions, though, Senegal will need to leave soon. Doing so could provide space for Gambian institutions to develop on their own terms, she writes for World Politics Review. RTWT
