Senegal’s President Calls for Closure of French Military Bases

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye urged France on Thursday to close its military bases in Senegal. This comes as the country prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of a notorious colonial-era massacre.

Faye highlighted that French President Emmanuel Macron had acknowledged France’s responsibility for the 1944 “massacre” of Senegalese soldiers. While he welcomed this recognition, Faye argued that maintaining French military bases in Senegal undermines the nation’s sovereignty.

“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye declared during an interview at the presidential palace.

After winning March’s elections on a platform centered on asserting Senegal’s sovereignty, Faye emphasized his commitment to reducing dependence on foreign powers. However, he clarified that his position did not signal a complete severing of ties with France, as has occurred in other West African nations in recent years.

“Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” he explained.

Reckoning with History

Faye’s call comes amidst a broader wave of anti-French sentiment in the region. Military juntas in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French troops and sought security partnerships with Russia. Meanwhile, France has begun reducing its military footprint in Africa, with plans to scale down troops in Senegal, Gabon, Chad, and Ivory Coast.

“France remains an important partner for Senegal in terms of investment, the presence of French companies, and even French citizens in Senegal,” Faye acknowledged.

During the interview, Faye revealed he had received a letter from Macron accepting French culpability for the World War II massacre at Thiaroye, a tragic episode that has long strained relations between the two nations. On December 1, 1944, French forces opened fire on Senegalese soldiers protesting delayed pay at a camp near Dakar. At least 35 people died, but historians think the death toll could have been much higher.

“I received today a letter from President Emmanuel Macron in which he acknowledges that it was a massacre, very clearly, unambiguously on the terms,” Faye said.

He praised Macron’s acknowledgment as “a great step” and noted the French president’s apology for being unable to attend the commemoration of the massacre’s 80th anniversary.

Seeking Reparations

Faye indicated he is therefore contemplating demanding a formal apology from France and called for meaningful reparative actions.

“To recognise that a massacre has been committed must obviously have the effect of making amends… We think that naturally this is what must follow,” he asserted.

The Thiaroye massacre, a deeply painful chapter in Senegal’s history, continues to serve as a stark reminder of the country’s colonial past and its struggle to redefine its sovereignty in the present.