May 19, 2024
2 mins read

Senegalese PM slams French military bases on territory

Neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have pushed out French troops and turned to Russia for help fighting jihadist insurgencies on their territory…reports Asian Lite News

Senegal’s prime minister Ousmane Sonko raised the possibility of closing French military bases in the West African country on Thursday in a wide-ranging speech that also touched on the euro-backed CFA franc currency, oil and gas deals and LGBTQ rights.

Sonko, a firebrand politician who gained power when his hand-picked presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye won a decisive victory in March, is known for criticizing perceived overreach by France in its former colony.

France has about 350 troops in Senegal.

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

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

Neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have pushed out French troops and turned to Russia for help fighting jihadist insurgencies on their territory.

They have also turned away from West African bloc ECOWAS — which condemned their coups — and formed their own alliance of Sahel states.

But Sonko had friendly words for them on Thursday. “We will not let go of our brothers in the Sahel and we will do everything necessary to strengthen the ties,” he said.

He also said Senegal, which shares the euro-pegged CFA franc currency with seven countries, would like a flexible currency pegged to at least two currencies to help absorb shocks and support export competitiveness. During the election campaign, Faye had initially pledged to abandon the CFA franc but later backed off his promise. Sonko reiterated promises to renegotiate oil and gas contracts in Senegal, where production is due to begin this year.

He also called on Western countries to show “restraint, respect, reciprocity and tolerance” on social matters including LGBTQ rights and gender equality.

He said homosexuality had always existed in Senegal, but the country had “managed” it and would continue to do so according to its socio-cultural realities. “Senegal and many other African countries cannot accept any truth in legalizing this phenomenon.”

ALSO READ-Senegal’s president names ‘breakaway’ govt

Previous Story

Burkina loyalists rally after gunfire near presidency

Next Story

Tunisia reports increase in migrant interceptions

Latest from Africa News

India, Uganda vow deeper ties

Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday to discuss strengthening India–Uganda ties….reports Asian Lite News Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met

Former Kenyan PM dies in Kerala hospital

Kenya mourns the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a champion of democracy and cherished friend of India, who passed away in Kerala at 80….reports Asian Lite News Kenya’s former Prime

China’s Grab for Africa

China’s investments aim to strengthen its geopolitical influence and its high-tech manufacturing sector in Africa…reports Asian Lute News China is further consolidating its dominance in the rare earth elements sector by expanding

India Builds Bridges at G20

Union Minister Jitin Prasada attended the meeting and held bilateral talks with counterparts from member nations….reports Asian Lite News India held talks with several nations on strengthening trade and technology ties, focusing

Mariam Ouédraogo: The Voice of the Muted

As a mother, Mariam believes that being a woman is not a professional handicap but an asset in journalism, particularly when covering sensitive subjects, as victims are often more trusting of women
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Complex warfare drills mark Indo-French naval exercise

The exercise reflected high synergy and mutual understanding between the

India, France to strengthen ongoing cooperation on counter terror

The Indian delegation was led by Prakash Gupta, Joint Secretary