THE SENEGALESE president says his country will reclaim control of military bases held by former colonial power France, as the west African country this week marks 50 years of independence.
“I solemnly declare that . . . Senegal will take back all the bases formerly held by France and intends to exercise its sovereignty,” Abdoulaye Wade said in a television address, adding that he had asked his prime minister and army leadership to begin talks with the French side.
He was speaking during celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Senegal’s independence from France, on April 4th, 1960.
Following independence, Senegal had agreed to let France retain military bases in the country, Mr Wade said.
“Over the years, this situation has appeared more and more incongruous and has often been felt by our populations, particularly young people, civil servants and the army, as an incomplete independence.”
France and its former colony have been bound by a defence agreement since 1974; 1,200 French soldiers are currently “pre-positioned” in Dakar at one of three permanent French bases in Africa.
However, France has been consolidating its bases on the continent in recent years. An agreement reached between Paris and Dakar in February envisaged the departure of most of the French contingent by the end of this year. French officials said talks on the withdrawal of French troops were ongoing.
Although France has acknowledged that the Senegalese bases will close, President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he wants to maintain political and military co-operation and has said that some 300 soldiers would remain in Dakar.
French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Senegal had always had “total sovereignty” over the French bases on their soil.
“On the future of the holdings, the timetable and so on, all of that is being discussed in the run-up to an agreement that, I’m sure, will satisfy both parties,” he told RFI radio.
Meanwhile, Senegal marked the 50-year anniversary of its independence at the weekend by unveiling a 160ft high bronze statue depicting a family rising triumphantly from a volcano.
Symbolising Africa’s renaissance, the monument – which cost US$27 million and stands taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty – has drawn fierce criticism for its cost and design.
Some Muslim scholars have called the Soviet-style monument idolatrous, while Mr Wade – an 83-year-old who is expected to seek re-election in 2012 – had to apologise to the country’s Christian minority for comparing the monument to Jesus Christ.