Decolonization ongoing in African state – diplomat

The revision of deals with foreign partners such as the EU and France is part of Senegal’s push for sovereignty, Aminata Toure has told RT

Senegal remains committed to the process of decolonization, and as part of that effort, it plans to exit the France-backed CFA franc monetary union, Aminata Toure, high representative of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has stated.

The diplomat made the remarks in an interview with RT, published on Sunday.

“The CFA franc will soon be ancient history, in my opinion, because it is no longer suited to the ambitions of our economies,” she said.

The CFA franc, introduced by France in 1945, is used in 14 French-speaking nations in sub-Saharan Africa. Critics have long deemed the currency a colonial relic, claiming that it serves as a tool for Paris to continue maintaining influence over the economies and administration of countries in the zone.

“ECOWAS [West African regional bloc] is thinking about the issue so that the currency, which would be called the Eco, would see the light of day as soon as possible,” Toure said.

READ MORE: French army begins departure from Senegal

The proposed common currency for West African countries is expected to be introduced in 2027 after being postponed four times due to member states’ failure to meet convergence criteria set by the West African Monetary Institute.

Faye, who came to power exactly a year ago, has promised radical economic reforms, sovereignty over the country’s key industries, and the promotion of peace in Africa. The Senegalese president’s administration has since reviewed contracts negotiated by the previous government with foreign partners.

Last November, the EU announced it was ending a 2019 fisheries agreement with Senegal, citing “shortcomings” on Dakar’s part. Meanwhile, Dakar has taken a tough stance on the presence of French troops, which are scheduled to leave Senegal by September. This comes amid a regional trend of former colonies severing defense relations with Paris.

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Speaking to RT, President Faye’s high representative described the canceled EU fisheries deal as a “completely unequal agreement that is no longer acceptable.” 

Commenting on the departure of French forces, Toure said her country has “just returned to normal” with such a decision. “Indeed, the troops should leave by September. I don’t know many countries where there are foreign troops, so that was ancient history,” she stated.

The diplomat noted Senegal’s intention to diversify its partnerships, including within the BRICS group. “The BRICS are proof that poverty can be definitively eradicated in a human space; you don’t need two or three centuries to do it,” she said.