Ousmane Sonko declared bluntly that no discussion or negotiation had taken place with France regarding this decision. He specified that the withdrawal of French bases in Senegal arises exclusively from the will of the Senegalese people and their government, fully exercising their right to self-determination. This strong position reaffirms the sovereignty of Senegal, as a free and independent nation.
In his statement, Ousmane Sonko also criticized the attitude of France, which claims to guarantee the security and sovereignty of African countries. According to him, not only does France not have the legitimacy to assume this role, but it has often contributed to the destabilization of certain African states. He notably mentioned the case of Libya, where French intervention caused regional chaos, the consequences of which continue to weigh heavily on the stability and security of the Sahel.
The French president also affirmed that no African country would be sovereign today without the deployment of France on the continent. An assertion deemed condescending and erroneous by Ousmane Sonko, who recalled a historical fact often overlooked: without the participation of African soldiers during the Second World War, France itself might never have regained its freedom. These soldiers, often mobilized by force, sacrificed their lives to defend a nation which then forgot or mistreated them.
The Leral Group would like to welcome this firm and worthy position taken by the president of Pastef, Ousmane Sonko, which reaffirms not only the sovereignty of Senegal, but also the need for international relations to be based on mutual respect and equality between nations.
This historical reminder and this diplomatic clarification reinforce the idea that Africa must emancipate itself from paternalistic discourses to chart its own path, in full sovereignty. Senegal, through this position, shows the way.
Senegal
