- Senegalese government's announcement that it would withdraw its capital from the national telecommunications company, Sonatel, has caused anxiety and disbelief among the company's staff.
Sonatel is a Senegalese subsidiary of France Telecom, which maintains a 43% stake in it.
The company's staff have expressed worry about the company's future and called on the government not to ignore its plans, fearing that the company would entirely be controlled by France Telecoms thus leading to a return of the neo-colonial system of cooperation.
According to the state-owned newspaper 'Le Soleil', the views were expressed by an executive committee of Sonatel worker's union.
Attended by 80 delegates country-wide, participants discussed so many pertinent issues, including the challenges facing Sonatel.
The Secretary General of Sonatel workers union, Aïdara Mamadou Diop said his company's relations with France Telecoms is in the process of sliding towards "a neo-colonial" approach.
He said at first the state played its partnership role towards developing a telecommunications strategy, but warned that the behaviour of France Telecoms today is a cause for concern.
Diop attributed France Telecoms' maximisation of profit to the professionalism and commitment of Sonatel workers.
"It is necessary to assess the impact that may result in the telecommunication development in Senegal after the withdrawal of the state capital," he said, especially at a time Sudatel, a Sudanese company storms the country's telecommunications industry.
Sonatel is seen as a key partner of development and provider of universal service.
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