On November 28, he declared that France would have to close its military bases in the country.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on Tuesday December 31 “the end of all military presences of foreign countries in Senegal, from 2025”, in a speech to mark the New Year.
On November 28, he announced that France would have to close its military bases in Senegal.
“I have instructed the Minister of the Armed Forces to propose a new doctrine of cooperation in defense and security matters, involving, among other consequences, the end of all military presences of foreign countries in Senegal, from 2025,” declared Tuesday Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in March.
It thus sets for the first time a date for the departure of foreign military bases in this former French colony, with strong relations with the West, France in particular.
“All friends of Senegal will be treated as strategic partners, within the framework of open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation,” said the Senegalese head of state.
A break with the system
Bassirou Diomaye Faye advocates a break with the system and calls for left-wing pan-Africanism. He took office in April after being elected on the promise of sovereignty and an end to dependence on foreign countries.
He declared on November 28 that the presence of French military bases on the territory of his country was incompatible with national sovereignty, in an interview with AFP in Dakar. “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 country. West African countries.
“Military presence or military absence should not be equal to rupture,” he added.
The Senegalese president mentioned in this interview an upcoming update of the military cooperation doctrine.
