Macron had previously stated that the withdrawal decisions were made “in consultation” with African nations. However, Prime Minister Sonko categorically refuted this claim, asserting that Senegal’s decision was “made solely from its own will, as a free, independent, and sovereign nation.”
This exchange follows Macron’s comments at the Ambassadors’ Conference in Paris, where he suggested that African nations would not have achieved sovereignty without French intervention. Prime Minister Sonko strongly rejected this assertion, emphasizing the significant contributions of African soldiers to the liberation of France during World War II, often under difficult and exploitative circumstances.
Sonko also criticized France’s role in destabilizing Libya, highlighting the “disastrous consequences” for regional security. He further emphasized that Senegal, as a sovereign nation, has the right to determine its own security needs and partnerships.
This exchange underscores the growing tensions surrounding France’s military presence in Africa and the increasing assertiveness of African nations in charting their own foreign policy courses.
AC/sf/lb/abj/APA