It was announced Senegalese President Passero Diomay Faye said yesterday, Thursday, that France will be forced to close its military bases in Senegal, saying that their presence conflicts with his country’s sovereignty.
Fay added, in an interview with Agence France-Presse conducted at the presidential palace, “Senegal An independent state. It is a sovereign state, and sovereignty is not compatible with existence Foreign military bases In a sovereign state.
Fay stressed that rejecting a French military presence in his country does not mean a “rupture” between the two countries Dakar and ParisHe pointed out that 64 years after Senegal’s independence from France, “the French authorities must think about establishing a partnership devoid of military presence,” and this does not mean “a rupture,” he said.
The Senegalese President explained that his country has close relations with several countries such as China, Turkey, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and “all of these countries do not have any military base in Senegal,” adding:China Today it is our number one trading partner in terms of investment and trade volume. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? both. Are we talking about a rupture?
Chad and France
While Senegal talks about dismantling French military presence In it amicably, and from turning it into a rupture, it was announced Chad In a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, Thursday, it terminated its defense cooperation agreement with France.
This step requires French forces Leaving the country, which is a key ally of the West in the war against militants in the region.
This step will allow N’Djamena to fully impose its sovereignty after 66 years of independence.
According to the Chadian Foreign Ministry’s statement, the decision to terminate the amended defense cooperation agreement in 2019 would enable it to reconsider its strategic partnerships.
These developments in Senegal and Chad will increase problems France In Africa in the coming period, French influence will be reduced, if not “zeroed” and completely eliminated in the region.
A painful blow to the French presence
Senegal is the last remnant of France’s direct influence in the West African region, as it maintains a limited military presence estimated at about 500 soldiers, including soldiers, trainers, and advisors.
And it was French Ministry of Defence Before the last elections, it announced its intention to reduce the number of soldiers to 260 by next June, the majority of whom will be advisors and trainers.
So, after Fay won the presidency of Senegal, and the statement of the Chadian Foreign Ministry, the French presence in Africa receives a new and painful blow after France lost its presence in Africa. financial Burkina Faso and Niger.
It is indicated that Burkina Faso After the current leaders took power in Mali and Niger, they demanded that France withdraw its forces from them, and the matter sometimes reached the point of severing diplomatic relations, as happened between… Niger And France.
