Senegalese minister announces official end of fishing agreement with EU

Senegalese ministers have said it was their government and not the European Union that was behind a fisheries agreement not being renewed after Brussels announced European boats would stop activities in Senegal's waters.

The announcement comes ahead of Sunday's legislative elections, where the new Senegalese government's leaders hope to gain a parliamentary majority allowing them to implement their leftist and pan-African agenda.

The controversy over foreign fishing was heightened with the March election of President, who has pledged a fairer distribution of revenues from natural resources to benefit the Senegalese people. The EU has said the deal would affect 18 Spanish and French vessels fishing for tropical tuna and hake.