Two of the 5 French navy bases in Senegal had been officially handed over to the local authorities on Friday. It be step one towards a entire withdrawal of French militia presence within the country.
The militia web sites of Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry, not removed from the port of Dakar, had been officially returned to Senegalese authorities.
The French militia said these two web sites had been empty for a year and had already been earmarked to be handed inspire to Senegal.
According to RFI’s correspondent, there used to be no ceremony, upright the signing of a story to stamp the switch.
Since his election ultimate April, Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye has made it certain that he wants to reshape his country’s relationships with the skin world.
He told a number of French media ultimate November that “There will soon be no more French soldiers in Senegal”.
Turn into the nation
This used to be echoed within the first predominant protection speech to parliament made by Senegalese High Minister Ousmane Sonko in December.
He promised sweeping modifications to change into the nation, together with the closure of international militia bases.
The three ultimate French militia bases are blueprint to be closed and handed inspire with a timetable but to be drawn up.
A chunk of over 200 infantrymen and their households dwell at Camp Geille, the greatest of the 5 militia bases, positioned within the town centre of Ouakam. 20 others are on the Rufisque inappropriate within the suburbs of Dakar.
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In January, France’s head of the Africa present Total Pascal Ianni paid a talk to to Senegalese Chief of Workers, Total Mbaye Cissé to focus on arrangements.
Navy sources on the time told RFI that September seems to be a logical decrease-off date for the closure for the ultimate bases.
“The transfer movements within the army usually take place in the summer, for family and logistical reasons,” a French militia source said.
A willpower will additionally need to be taken regarding the future of the Falcon 50, a French navy airplane parked at Dakar airport.
France has signalled that it would fancy to leer it cease in Senegal for surveillance missions on fishing and drug trafficking, among assorted things.
Fears for local employment
In the interval in-between, the announcement of the closure of the ultimate militia bases has created difficulty with regards to local employment.
The French militia bases in Dakar and its surrounding areas instantly employ 162 personnel, and employ between 400 and 500 folks in total thru subcontractors.
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Workers are primarily soliciting for severance pay in relate to soar inspire and are silent negotiating with their French employer.
To allay fears, the French navy organised a occupation advice day on Thursday to assist staff salvage contemporary jobs in sectors equivalent to constructing, logistics, cooking and accounting.
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“We are thinking especially of the young people,” electrician Souleymane Touré told RFI.
He says he does not demand great from for the time being since 60 percent of the team is over 50 years musty, “and that it is already difficult for young people to find a job in Senegal.”
Brigadier Total Yves Aunis told French data company AFP in January that as an employer, the French remark used to be “very aware of the human stakes and the impacts on Senegalese families, that it would (comply) with Senegalese labor law, but that the starting conditions should be good”.
Senegal and France have historically maintained sturdy political and financial family, despite France’s long colonial rule over Senegal, which lasted until 1960.
