Senegal, Chad severe military ties with France

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu and Ogunsona Samuel

France has been asked to close all military locations in Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has said.

The Senegalese President called for the closure of French military bases in Senegal.

This is coming ahead of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre in which many Senegalese soldiers who fought in the Second World War were massacred after the demanded for payment of wages following delay by France.

In an interview with AFP on Thursday, Faye said that France’s military presence in Senegal is “incompatible” with the country’s sovereignty.

The former tax inspector, who rose to power at the general election last March behind the promise of achieving Senegal’s independence, said: “Sovereignty does not allow for foreign military presence on our soil.”

He said the withdrawal of French troops should not be seen as and end to bilateral relations.

“Senegal is an independent country, but that doesn’t mean we sever ties with our partners. China, for example, is our largest trading partner today, and yet it does not maintain a military presence here,” he said.

In a related development, Chad has also ended her military ties with France.
Chad’s government abruptly ended a defense cooperation agreement with former colonial power France, issuing the unexpected announcement just a few hours after a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries.

“After 66 years since the independence of the Republic of Chad, it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty, and to redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities,” Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement late Thursday.

“This decision, taken after in-depth analysis, marks a historic turning point,” he said.

The announcement came just hours after Koulamallah met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Chad’s capital N’Djamena. Koulamallah said that the meeting took place without incident.