Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has canceled what was set to be his first official trip to France, citing a scheduling conflict.
The visit—planned for late September—would have included his appearance at BPIFrance Inno Génération, Europe’s largest business forum, scheduled for 23 September 2025.
Sonko will instead send a delegate and proceed with a tour to the United Arab Emirates from 8–12 September, followed by a visit to Italy from 13–14 September, where he is expected to address the Senegalese diaspora.
Meanwhile, President Bassirou Faye will host the French Prime Minister in Dakar in the coming weeks.
Observers see the cancellation as more than logistics—it may reflect Sonko’s discomfort with appearing in Paris soon after President Faye’s visit, given his reputation as a fierce critic of French influence in Senegal.
Sonko has previously rejected French President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that troop withdrawals were negotiated, asserting instead that Senegal’s actions stem solely from sovereign decision-making.
This development takes place against a backdrop of Sonko’s broader push for national self-determination. The prime minister has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of long-standing French military presence, arguing it undermines Senegal’s sovereignty. He has also criticized Western cultural interventions—such as LGBTQ rights—as out of step with Senegalese traditions.
Regional observers view this move as part of West Africa’s gradual distancing from former colonial ties. Countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French forces amid security and political divergences. Sonko’s cancellation may signal a strategic recalibration of Senegalese diplomacy—balancing domestic nationalist sentiment with international engagement.