Macron and Faye signalled commitment to dialogue despite tensions, with Faye stressing sovereignty and transparency as the basis for a new phase in Senegal–France ties….reports Asian Lite News
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, just weeks after France shut down its last military bases in Senegal, drawing a close to more than sixty years of military presence in the country.
According to officials, no subject was considered off limits during the discussions. Among the most sensitive issues raised was the 1944 Thiaroye massacre, when French forces killed scores of Senegalese Tirailleurs—African soldiers who had fought for France during the Second World War. President Faye pressed Macron for the full declassification and release of military and judicial archives related to the killings, underscoring the need for historical clarity and accountability.
The two leaders also touched on the Dakar-Diamniadio express project, a flagship infrastructure development designed to link the capital with nearby cities. While seen as vital to Senegal’s economic transformation, the project has sparked disagreements over financing, management, and long-term benefits, often straining relations between Dakar and Paris.
Both sides signalled that despite tensions, they remain committed to dialogue, with Faye emphasising sovereignty and transparency as the foundations of a new phase in Senegal–France relations.
