Senegal welcomes friendship with France as long as it does not involve its military

For Senegal to fully consider itself a sovereign state, it must eliminate foreign military influence, particularly that of France.

This opinion was echoed by Senegalese leader Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, who told AFP 24 on Thursday that France should close all its army outposts in the country.

The Senegalese president announced that French President Emmanuel Macron had confirmed his country’s involvement in the “massacre” of Senegalese soldiers in 1944.

Faye welcomed the admission but claimed that the possession of French bases in the country violated national sovereignty.

“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” said the Senegalese president.

However, he noted that Senegal still welcomes the partnership with France, provided it comes about without military interference.

“France remains an important partner for Senegal for investments in Senegal and for the presence of French companies and even French citizens residing in Senegal,” explained Faye.

He pointed to the West African country’s partnership with China, noting that no other country is more commercially linked to Senegal, but China does not insist on a military presence in its country.

“Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does this mean our relationships are broken? No,” he added.

In May, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed a similar opinion, saying that the country’s desire to determine its own path was “incompatible with the entrenched presence of foreign military bases” in his homeland.

“More than 60 years after our independence… we must question the reasons why, for example, the French army still benefits from several military bases in our country, and what impact this presence has on our national sovereignty and our strategic autonomy,” Sonko said a joint conference with the French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the capital Dakar.

“I reiterate here Senegal’s desire for its own control, which is incompatible with the permanent presence of foreign military bases in Senegal… Many countries have promised defense agreements, but that does not justify the fact that a third of the Dakar region is now occupied by foreign garrisons ” he added.

Since coming to power, Senegal’s new young, strapping president has been on a mission to get Senegal on the right path.

The 44-year-old ousted former President Amadou Ba (62) in March, despite being imprisoned during the election period.