Sonko, a prominent figure in Senegalese politics, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the continued presence of French military bases in Senegal, a legacy of the country’s colonial past.
Despite Senegal’s independence over 60 years ago, Sonko questions the necessity of France maintaining such bases and the impact they have on Senegal’s national sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
Speaking alongside French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon in Dakar, Sonko reiterated Senegal’s desire to assert its own control over its territory, which he believes is compromised by the presence of foreign military installations.
He highlighted the significant portion of the Dakar region currently occupied by foreign garrisons, emphasising the need for Senegal to reassess its defence agreements with other countries.
Neighbouring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French troops and sought support from Russia to combat jihadist threats within their borders.
They’ve also distanced themselves from the ECOWAS bloc, forming their own alliance of Sahel states. Despite this, Sonko expressed solidarity with them on Thursday, stating, “We will stand by our Sahelian brothers and take all necessary measures to strengthen our bonds.”
Senegal, which shares the euro-pegged CFA franc currency with seven other nations, aims to adopt a more adaptable currency arrangement, pegged to at least two currencies, to bolster resilience and enhance export competitiveness.
While Faye initially vowed to abandon the CFA franc during the election campaign, Sonko reaffirmed plans to renegotiate oil and gas contracts in Senegal, especially with production slated to begin this year.
He further urged Western nations to exhibit “restraint, respect, reciprocity, and tolerance” regarding social issues such as LGBTQ rights and gender equality.
Sonko acknowledged the presence of homosexuality in Senegal but emphasised the nation’s approach of managing it in alignment with its sociocultural context.
He asserted that Senegal, along with many other African countries, cannot endorse the legalisation of this phenomenon.
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