French President Emmanuel Macron and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met for the first time in Paris on Thursday, vowing to strengthen their nations’ relationship.
Macron and Faye, inaugurated on April 2, held their meeting during the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation.
In a joint statement, the leaders expressed a shared commitment to revitalizing the partnership between Senegal and France. They emphasized that this partnership should be “based on mutual respect—a balanced collaboration serving the interests of both peoples.”
Senegal and France have a long history of strong political and economic ties. However, Faye, a left-wing pan-Africanist, has called for more equitable international relationships. In May, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko stated that the country’s desire for self-determination was “incompatible with the entrenched presence of foreign military bases” on Senegalese soil.
On Monday, sources informed AFP that France plans to reduce its military presence in West and Central Africa, including Senegal. The number of French soldiers in Senegal is expected to decrease from 350 to around 100.
This move comes as France’s military has recently been ousted from former colonies Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
