The Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced, Thursday November 28, 2024, in an interview withAgence France-Pressethat France will be forced to close its military bases in Senegal. While believing that their presence comes into conflict with the sovereignty of his country.
Mr. Faye added, in the interview at the presidential palace, that “Senegal is an independent country. It is a sovereign country and sovereignty is not compatible with the presence of (foreign) military bases in a sovereign country.”
However, he stressed that the rejection of a French military presence in his country did not mean a “rupture” between Dakar and Paris.
The Senegalese president confirmed having received from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, a letter in which Paris recognized its responsibility in a “massacre” committed by its colonial forces in Thiaroye, near Dakar, on December 1, 1944.
In this regard, he declared: “Today (Thursday), I received a letter from President Emmanuel Macron in which he recognizes that it was a massacre, very clearly, without any terminological ambiguity. » Mr. Faye welcomed this recognition, considering it a “big step” on the part of Emmanuel Macron.
Furthermore, the Senegalese president reiterated his desire to diversify the partners of his country, which seeks to develop. While remaining the interlocutor for the greatest number of countries. And this at a time when the countries of the Sahel region are suddenly separating from France and turning towards Russia. “France remains an important partner for Senegal in terms of level of investments, presence of French companies and even French citizens in Senegal,” he nevertheless recalled.
But 64 years after Senegal’s independence from France, “the French authorities must consider establishing a partnership without a military presence. But a rich partnership, a fruitful partnership, a distinctive and global partnership like the one that links us with many countries.”
He explained that his country maintains close relations with several countries such as China, Turkey, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And “all these countries do not have any military base in Senegal”.
Furthermore, he continued: “Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment volume and trade. However, does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Are we talking about a breakup? »
In the end, Mr. Faye spoke of an upcoming update of the military cooperation doctrine. He explained that this update “clearly means that there will be no military base in Senegal for any country.”
