Senegal says it didn't coordinate with Paris withdrawal of French troops

The Senegalese authorities did not coordinate with France's leadership on the decision to withdraw foreign military contingents from the country, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said, Report informs via TASS.

"President Emmanuel Macron stated that the announced withdrawal of French contingents was coordinated with African countries and France. He believes that out of mere convenience and courtesy, France provided these African countries with such an opportunity. In Senegal's case, this statement is completely wrong. No discussions or negotiations have been held so far, and the decision made by Senegal is dictated solely by its will as a free, independent, and sovereign country," he wrote on his social media page.

Sonko added that France has neither the capability nor legitimacy to ensure the security and sovereignty of African countries.

"On the contrary, it has often contributed to destabilization in some African countries, such as Libya, with catastrophic consequences for the stability and security of the Sahel," he emphasized.

According to Sonko, African military personnel contributed to the victory over fascists in World War II.

"If African soldiers, sometimes forcibly mobilized, mistreated, and finally betrayed, had not been deployed during World War II to defend France, this country might be German today," the politician concluded.

Earlier, Macron criticized African countries for their lack of gratitude for Paris's help in fighting terrorism in the Sahel.