Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is seeking an end to the presence of French troops in the West African nation.
Speaking with French daily Le Monde, Faye while emphasizing the importance of national sovereignty, said there will soon be no more French soldiers in Senegal.
The French military has maintained a presence in Senegal since the country’s independence in 1960, primarily for training and regional security operations. There are currently some 350 French soldiers in the country.
This marks the first official statement from Senegal’s government calling for the departure of French troops.
However, in May 2024, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko criticized their presence, questioning their necessity in a sovereign nation.
Faye, who has been in office since April, said he would on Sunday commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, when hundreds of African riflemen were killed by French forces in 1944 for demanding pay.
