Dakar--Senegal says it is sending troops to Saudi Arabia in an act of "solidarity" for the kingdom's Yemen operation, but critics say the support has more to do with cold, hard cash.
Unlike the other African countries that have offered back-up, Senegal is not in the Arab League, and its only military experience in the region was a deployment to the Gulf after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait 25 years ago.
The Institute for Security Studies think-tank pointed in a recent analysis to a strong hint of a "mercenary motive" in Dakar's support, and similar offers of help by Morocco and Sudan.
Senegal has rejected the suggestion, however, pointing to its contribution to United Nations peacekeeping forces elsewhere.
"Did we go into Mali for petrodollars?" government spokesman Oumar Youm said in a statement to AFP reacting to the accusation.
A Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies on March 26 after they seized control of large parts of Yemen and advanced on the main southern city of Aden.
Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye announced last week the country was sending 2,100 soldiers to join the force at the request of Saudi King Salman.
He did not specify when the troops would be deployed, but remarked that Riyadh had asked Dakar to contribute to the coalition at the beginning of April.
A collective of activist groups in Dakar had planned to march on Wednesday against the deployment but organisers say the demonstration was banned.
Malick Noel Seck, one of the campaigners, accused the government of "making Senegalese soldiers play the same role as the tirailleurs" -- a term for infantry conscripted in the French colonies in the 19th and 20th centuries.
AFP
