Senegal's president urges closure of French military bases to assert sovereignty

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has urged France to shut down its military bases in the West African nation, emphasizing the need to assert national sovereignty.

His remarks come as Senegal prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, a colonial-era atrocity in which French forces killed African soldiers who had fought for France in World War II, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," Faye said. 

He stressed that this position aligns with his administration’s broader push to reduce dependency on foreign powers, a key promise of his successful March election campaign.

The call to remove French troops does not signify a break in diplomatic relations, Faye clarified. Drawing a comparison to Senegal's partnership with China, he explained,

"Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No."

Faye’s stance reflects a broader trend in francophone Africa, where military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French forces and turned to alternative security arrangements, including Russian assistance.

France, for its part, is scaling back its military footprint in the region. According to French government sources, troop levels are being reduced across several countries, with Senegal’s contingent decreasing from 350 to 100 personnel.

Despite his criticism of military bases, Faye acknowledged the value of French investments and the presence of French citizens in Senegal. "France remains an important partner for Senegal for the investment for Senegal and the presence of French companies and even French citizens who are in Senegal," he stated.

The backdrop to Faye’s comments is a significant gesture from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has officially recognized France’s responsibility for the 1944 Thiaroye massacre.

At least 35 African soldiers were killed when French forces opened fire on protesters at a camp near Dakar, though historians believe the true death toll could be much higher. The soldiers, who had been prisoners of war in Germany, were demanding overdue pay and fair treatment.

"I received today a letter from President Emmanuel Macron in which he acknowledges that it was a massacre, very clearly, unambiguously on the terms," Faye said. He described Macron’s admission as "a great step," though he indicated that further action might be needed, including a formal apology. "

To recognize that a massacre has been committed must obviously have the effect of making amends…. We think that naturally this is what must follow."

As Senegal reflects on its colonial past, the Thiaroye massacre continues to symbolize the enduring scars of that era and the challenges of navigating contemporary international relations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev