Aestu wrote:
No site that came up on Google said what the charges actually were. Are these political prisoners?
Either way, this isn't really about the death penalty or anything like that at all. It's about economic exploitation. The US and EU have been more than happy (and still are) to turn a blind eye to, or openly aid, all sorts of horribly evil regimes in Africa. They only trot out the sanctimonious human rights crap when they feel the regime isn't giving them something they want.
I looked into it. The real issue is China is buying up the Sengalese gold industry. The US is probably worried that China controlling a large section of the world's gold production will create a serious economic threat at a time the American currency is breaking down. To prevent that from happening, the US wants to influence - or replace - the Sengalese govt. Senegal also produces large quantities of phosphate and copper, materials also contested between the great powers.
That's what this is about. Control of copper, phosphate and gold production...and the rising power of China.
Your edited response is much better, imo. Yes, these appear to be mostly political prisoners, some of whom have been awaiting execution for 15-20 years...treason, I believe.
So, the EU and US are supporting the Sengalese position against the execution of two of its citizens to ingratiate themselves to the current Sengalese government, or to better position themselves to overthrow this government for one for favorable to our needs? Is that it?
Even if this point is conceded, is the U.S. position criticizing a government for executions less hypocritical?