Senegal Prime Minister: Senegal wants its own control away from foreign military bases
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko affirmed that his country will to have its own control, contrary to the permanent presence of foreign military bases in its territories.
Sonko added, “more than 60 years later of independence, it must be questioned… Why the French army still benefits from several military bases in the region, and the impact of this presence on national sovereignty and strategic independence”.
Speaking alongside left-wing French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Thursday to a number of students at Cheikh Anta Job University, Sonko said that “many countries have promised defense deals, but this doesn’t justify the occupation of a third of the Dakar region by foreign garrisons”.
Senegal, which shares with seven other countries the euro-linked CFA franc, “wants a flexible currency linked to at least two currencies, to help absorb shocks and boost export competitiveness,” Sonko said.
Sonko renewed his pledge to renegotiate oil and gas contracts in Senegal, which is expected to start gas production this year, through the Ahmeim Grand field shared with Mauritania.
The Senegalese prime minister pointed out that Senegal under his comrade Basirou Diomaye Avaye won’t abandon Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are ruled by military leaders who came to power through military coups.
Sonko said. “We’ll do everything necessary to strengthen ties”.
Sonko warned Western countries against “insisting on promoting LGBT rights in diplomatic relations, also through multinational organizations,” adding that this “could lead to anti-Western sentiment” and “raise enormous tensions in Senegal”.
