President Bassirou Faye announces the “end of all foreign military presences from 2025”

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On November 28, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced that France would have to close its military bases in Senegal. He now confirms that this will be done in the coming year 2025.

“ I have instructed the Minister of the Armed Forces to propose a new doctrine of cooperation in matters of defense and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all military presences of foreign countries in Senegal, from 2025”declared the Senegalese president.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye thus sets for the first time a date for the departure of foreign military bases in this former French colony, with strong relations with the West, the France notably.

“ All friends of Senegal will be treated as strategic partners, within the framework of open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation. », Specified the Senegalese head of state.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye advocates a break with the system and calls for a left-wing pan-Africanism. He took office in April after being elected on the promise of sovereignty and an end to dependence on foreign countries.

“ Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of (foreign) military bases in a sovereign country. “, he said last November, 64 years after the independence of this West African country. “ Military presence or military absence should not equal rupture “, he added. The Senegalese president mentioned in this interview an upcoming update of the military cooperation doctrine. This update “ obviously requires that there are no more military bases of any country in Senegal, but it also imposes other developments in military cooperation with these different countries which still intend to maintain it (cooperation) with Senegal. “, he said.

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