For Senegal to fully consider itself a sovereign state, it must eliminate foreign military influence, most notably from France.
This sentiment was echoed by the Senegalese head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, who told AFP on Thursday that France should close all of its army outposts in the country.
The Senegalese president disclosed that France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed his country’s involvement in the “massacre” of Senegalese soldiers in 1944.
Faye welcomed the admission but claimed that having French bases in the country violated national sovereignty.
“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” the Senegalese president stated.
He, however, pointed out that Senegal still welcomes France’s partnership, supposing it comes without any military infusion.
“France remains an important partner for Senegal for the investment for Senegal and the presence of French companies and even French citizens who are in Senegal,” Faye stated.
He cited the West African country’s partnership with China, noting no other country is more commercially involved with Senegal, yet, China doesn’t insist on having a military presence in his country.
“Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” he added.
In May, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko also relayed a similar sentiment, stating that the country’s wish to determine its path was “incompatible with the entrenched presence of foreign military bases” in its home country.
“More than 60 years after our independence … we must question the reasons why the French army for example still benefits from several military bases in our country and the impact of this presence on our national sovereignty and our strategic autonomy,” Sonko said at a joint conference with the French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Melenchon in the capital Dakar.
“I reiterate here the desire of Senegal to have its own control, which is incompatible with the lasting presence of foreign military bases in Senegal … Many countries have promised defence agreements, but this does not justify the fact that a third of the Dakar region is now occupied by foreign garrisons,” he added.
Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye
Senegal’s new young strapping president since taking power has been on a mission to set Senegal on the right track.
The 44 year old ousted the former president Amadou Ba, (62) in March, despite being jailed around the election period.
