Senegal Ends France’s 65-Year Military Presence, Takes Control of Bases
Senegal has officially taken control of France’s last military bases in the country, marking the end of a 65-year military presence. The move reflects a growing trend among former French colonies in Africa to reassess and redefine their ties with Paris.
The final handover ceremony was held in Dakar on Thursday, where Camp Geille France’s largest base in Senegal and its adjacent airfield at the Dakar airport were formally transferred to Senegalese authorities. French troops, numbering around 350 and previously engaged in joint operations with the Senegalese military, will complete their withdrawal over a three-month period, concluding a process that began in March 2025.
The withdrawal fulfills a campaign promise made by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during the 2024 elections. Faye has advocated a significant reset in the country’s post-colonial relationship with France, emphasizing Senegal’s sovereignty and pushing for full autonomy in national defense.
Despite the military disengagement, Senegal has signaled it will maintain diplomatic and development cooperation with France, unlike other West African nations such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have taken more adversarial stances and pivoted toward alternative partners like Russia.
Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and has since maintained close military and political ties with its former colonial ruler. Former President Macky Sall continued to host French military operations on Senegalese soil. However, President Faye has pledged to reorient national policy, stating in late 2024 that, “Sovereignty does not accept the presence of foreign military bases.”
He also demanded a formal apology from France for its colonial-era atrocities, including the 1944 massacre of West African soldiers who fought for France during World War II.
France’s pullout from Senegal is part of a broader regional shift. In recent years, military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have led to the termination of French defense partnerships in those countries. The Central African Republic and Gabon have also reduced France’s military footprint, either replacing it with Russian forces or converting French facilities into joint bases.
As of now, Djibouti remains the only African nation hosting a permanent French military presence. France plans to concentrate its regional operations there, with a force of approximately 1,500 troops.
“Senegal is an independent and sovereign nation,” President Faye declared. “That sovereignty must be respected no foreign military bases on our soil. Yet, France will remain one of many partners.”
