DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s new prime minister, who was released from prison weeks earlier the presidential election earlier this year and propelled his party to victory, he criticized the French military presence in the West African country.
Ousmane Sonko also criticized efforts by France and the West to promote values that he said do not fit with those held by Senegal and other African countries, including LGBTQ rights and monogamy. Polygamy is widely practiced in Senegal.
Sonko was speaking on Thursday at an event held jointly with far-left French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the capital, Dakar.
Sonko is known for his criticism of interference from France, which is Senegal’s former colonial ruler. His inflammatory views in a region where other neighbors have already taken steps to cut ties with France helped his chosen candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, win the March presidential election.
“I want to reiterate Senegal’s desire for self-determination, which is incompatible with the long-term presence of foreign military bases in Senegal,” Sonko said.
He said the desire to question the presence of French and other foreign forces did not undermine existing defense treaties that Senegal signed with those countries. France has around 350 soldiers in Senegal.
Although Sonko warned that promoting LGBTQ rights could cause conflict between Senegal and France, Mélenchon responded that he had introduced legislation allowing same-sex marriage in France.
“I thought that this freedom to love anyone had to be open to everyone who wanted to enjoy it,” said the French politician.
Senegal is considered a pillar of stability in a region that has seen a wave of coups d’état in recent years, and Sonko’s remarks are likely to draw the attention of Western allies.
Following coups d’état in troubled neighbors Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the three nations expelled French troops and turned to Russia for help fighting years-long insurgencies there. The three nations also formed their own alliance of Sahel states, causing a split within the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.
Sonko, whose party has said ECOWAS needs to be reformed, reiterated criticism of the regional bloc for allowing divisions to grow.
“We will not abandon our brothers in the Sahel and will do whatever is necessary to strengthen our ties,” he said.
