DECRYPTION. Why is Senegal demanding the departure of French soldiers from its territory?

Franco-Senegalese relations are entering a new era. The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, declared Thursday November 28, 2024 that the presence of French military bases on his territory was incompatible with national sovereignty. The same day, Chad followed suit, breaking its defense agreement with Paris. On Monday, Emmanuel Macron's personal envoy to Africa, Jean-Marie Bockel, submitted a report on the new military system in African countries, stipulating that around a hundred soldiers would be maintained there.

Last March, the party of African Patriots of Senegal for work, ethics and fraternity (Pastef) was elected on the promise of embodying the government of “rupture” by restoring the sovereignty of the country. This Thursday, Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared that he wanted a “global partnership” with France without there being a “rupture”. However, Pastef would in reality want to distance itself from France on all levels, according to Caroline Roussy, research director of the Africa program at IRIS, where she led the file Africa: does anti-French sentiment exist? (IRIS, 2024).

An economic partnership on hold

“Until now, France was Senegal's first economic partner, with many French companies established in the landscape. Now, this partnership is more than uncertain with Pastef at the head of the country, especially since it is reinforced in his sovereignist line by the fact that he has a majority in the National Assembly.”

The Senegalese president certainly wanted to be reassuring on Thursday, arguing that France remained an “important partner for Senegal”. But behind the speech, will actions follow? If Senegal has not yet issued a general declaration on domestic policy, the government has spoken with the Chinese and Russian commercial powers, according to Caroline Roussy. “What will come out of this? For the moment, we have no visibility, only questions.”

“Chat channels blocked”

On the diplomatic side, Franco-Senegalese relations risk becoming more complex, according to the research director of the Africa program at IRIS. “The discussion channels are blocked at the highest summit of the State. The interministerial between France and Senegal was not repeated in March. The ambassadors were dismissed.”

The Senegalese president certainly declared that diplomatic relations with France had advanced a “big step” thanks to Emmanuel Macron's recognition this Thursday of the “massacre” of dozens of Senegalese riflemen by French colonial forces on 1^is December 1944 in Thiaroye. Pastef, for whom the denunciation of this colonial crime is a key element of the “rupture” promised to voters, here radically differentiated himself from his predecessors, who had put up with France's silence. As the 80th anniversary of the massacre approaches, tensions between France and Senegal could well intensify.