Senegal has announced plans to shut down all foreign military bases on its soil, signalling a significant shift in its foreign policy and distancing itself from its former colonial power, France.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko made the declaration on Friday during a general policy address to the National Assembly.
“The President of the Republic has decided to close all foreign military bases in the very near future,” he stated, without specifying a timeline for troop withdrawal.
The move aligns with earlier remarks by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who last month emphasized the need for Senegal to assert its sovereignty.
“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of foreign military bases,” he remarked during a rare media interview.
The decision appears directed at France, which has faced growing opposition from African nations over its perceived heavy-handed policies and legacy of colonialism.
France, which recently withdrew troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, has confirmed plans to reduce its military footprint in Africa. French officials indicated they would shift focus to providing targeted defence training and support to partner nations rather than maintaining permanent bases.
Senegal’s stance reflects a broader regional backlash against France’s military presence, as new governments in the region increasingly seek to assert independence and redefine their relationships with former colonial powers.
France maintains 350 troops in Senegal, though this number is expected to decrease under the country’s evolving strategy in Africa.
(AGCNewsNet)
