Several daily newspapers echo, this Tuesday, the response of the Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, to Emmanuel Macron, according to which there were negotiations between France and African countries on the departure of French soldiers present in Africa .
The French leader’s remarks, after the announcement of the withdrawal of the main French military bases, ”sparked an outcry in Senegal and Chad,” underlines Le Soleil, recalling that these two countries ”had mobilized troops [appelées tirailleurs sénégalais] to save France.
”African states have never negotiated the departure of French soldiers from their soil. This is the clarification made yesterday by Senegal […] and Chad. These two countries announce that they have taken this decision in complete sovereignty,” writes the newspaper.
WalfQuotidien reports that the withdrawal of French soldiers in Africa was one of the themes of President Macron’s speech to his country’s ambassadors meeting Monday in Paris.
According to the same newspaper, Emmanuel Macron trivialized the withdrawal of French military bases installed in Africa ”by emphasizing the ‘ingratefulness’ of the countries which have broken the military agreements” previously linking them to France.
”No discussions or negotiations took place”
The response from the head of the Senegalese government was not long in coming. ”Sonko turns the tables on Macron”, headline WalfQuotidien.
”War of words between the French president and the Senegalese Prime Minister”, adds Vox Populi, which points out that ”Macron tells the story in his own way”.
”We chose to move to Africa […] because I had to move […] As we are very polite, we left them the primacy of the announcement,” writes Vox Populi, quoting the French leader.
Ousmane Sonko ‘denies’ Emmanuel Macron by maintaining that, concerning Senegal, this assertion by the French president ‘is totally erroneous’. ”No discussions or negotiations took place. The decision taken by Senegal stems from its sole will,” says the same newspaper, quoting Mr. Sonko.
”Sonko reframes Macron” and reacts ”firmly” to his remarks according to which there was ”a supposed ‘politely consented’ withdrawal from French military bases” installed in Africa, we read in the columns of L ‘Observer. The latter considers that this ”diplomatic face-to-face” between Ousmane Sonko and Emmanuel Macron above all highlights ”a growing divide between Senegal and France, and a fierce struggle to assert African sovereignty”.
The French president ”went wild to settle scores with African leaders in the French-speaking area where France has a foundation buried in the depths of history,” notes Le Quotidien.
”Macron without diplomatic codes”, headlines the same newspaper.
L’As notes that ”Macron cries ingratitude, Sonko shuts him down”.
L’As drives the point home by quoting the Senegalese Prime Minister: ”France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa’s security and sovereignty.”
”While we have not finished commenting on the departure of French soldiers from French-speaking Africa and the prospects for military cooperation between said partners, an exit by Macron complicates the task,” observes the daily EnQuête.
”The heavy hand” of justice
For the rest, the daily newspapers return to the ”turbulences” noted within Pastef (power), in connection with the outcry generated by the appointment of sociologist Aoua Bocar Ly-Tall to the post of member of the National Regulatory Council of audiovisual.
”Despite the ‘chief”s call for calm, [Ousmane Sonko en l’occurrence]the fire smolders [sous la cendre]” at Pastef, where Fadilou Keïta, the general director of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignation, ”directs the ‘rebellion’ against Bassirou Diomaye Faye,” writes Tribune.
”Ousmane Sonko’s exit had succeeded in calming the ardor of [militants de Pastef] who had violently attacked President Bassirou Diomaye Faye because of the appointment of Aoua Bocar Ly-Tall to the post of member of the CNRA. But Fadilou Keïta, who had earlier attracted the wrath of his party comrades, finds it unfair that the latter only want to give credit to [propos] by Ousmane Sonko”, summarizes the daily Les Échos.
The daily newspapers were also interested in the verdict of the trial of members of the close guard of the “Samm Sa Kaddu” coalition, in connection with the violence noted during the campaign for the legislative elections of November 17.
Fifty-five defendants out of 80 were released outright, three others were sentenced to three years in prison, four others to two years, including six months.
Thirteen defendants received a three-month prison sentence. Eight others were sentenced to six months suspended sentence, 35 others were given three months suspended sentences, making a total of 24 people sentenced to prison, 12 defendants having been released, the others benefiting from a suspended sentence.
Justice had a “heavy hand” in this case, comment Sud Quotidien and Le Quotidien.
