Senegal's President Reclaims French Military Bases

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Senegal's President Reclaims French Military Bases
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 4, 2010

Filed at 1:56 p.m. ET

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) -- Senegal's president said Sunday the West African country was reclaiming three French military bases to mark its 50th year of independence from France. In Paris, however, officials said the bases' future was still under discussion.

President Abdoulaye Wade announced that the government would retake the bases which house some 1,200 troops, effective immediately. He said the handover would mark the final step in Senegal's separation from its former colonial master. Senegal gained independence from France in 1960.

''The presence of these French bases after all these years is seen as more and more out of place'' and gives many people the impression of ''incomplete independence,'' he said.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero, however, countered that Senegal has always had ''total sovereignty'' over the French bases on their soil.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/04/04/world/AP-AF-Senegal.html?_r=1

[JackRiddler]

1. Now if only they could reclaim the Louvre, or some other form of damages.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Political posturing. There was a signed agreement already in place

for the French to leave those bases. France has simply been withdrawing under the terms of that agreement.

[Rapier09]

3. Good move

Not sure if it all that concrete.

[David__77]

4. France should withdraw from Africa and abandon its colonialist attitude.

It still engineers coups and subverts in order to maintain its colonial power.

[classysassy]

5. Whites in africa

the black man burden.All of africa should unload their burden,haven't the stole enough of the continents resources?

[classysassy]

6. the spelling

are,they