Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on Tuesday “the end of all military presences of foreign countries” in Senegal from 2025.
It sets a departure date for the first time, however advocating “open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation” with its partners.
The former French colony wants to start on new bases. In a speech to mark the New Year this Tuesday, the Senegalese head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, announced “the end of all military presences of foreign countries in Senegal, from 2025”. “I have instructed the Minister of the Armed Forces to propose a new doctrine of cooperation in matters of defense and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all military presences of foreign countries in Senegal, from 2025”he declared.
Senegal is an independent country
Bassirou Diomaye Faye
This announcement comes as Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the upcoming closure of French military bases in Senegal at the end of November. “Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of foreign military bases in a sovereign country”he said, 64 years after the independence of this West African country. “Military presence or military absence should not equal rupture”however, he clarified.
This time, he sets a departure date. “All friends of Senegal will be treated as strategic partners, within the framework of open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation,” indicated the Senegalese head of state.
-
Read also
The French army persona non grata in Senegal and Chad: where does it keep bases in Africa?
Bassirou Diomaye Faye advocates a break with the system and calls for left-wing pan-Africanism. Taking office in April, he was elected on the promise of sovereignty and the end of dependence on foreign countries.
Senegal
