France on Thursday formally handed over its last two military bases in Senegal, ending a 65-year military presence and marking a significant shift in West Africa’s post-colonial security architecture.
In a handover ceremony attended by senior military officials from both countries, France returned control of Camp Geille, its largest base in the country, and an airfield at Dakar airport. The event marked the culmination of a three-month withdrawal process that began in March 2025.
Senegal’s chief of staff, General Mbaye Cisse, described the moment as an “important turning point” in the long military history between the two nations.
“New objectives are now aimed at giving fresh content to the security partnership,” he said, adding that Senegal is working to consolidate its skills toward achieving strategic autonomy.
The French military’s Africa commander, General Pascal Ianni, said the withdrawal symbolized a broader evolution.
“We are turning a page in the military history of our two countries… reinventing partnerships in a dynamic Africa,” he remarked.
The exit follows the election of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in 2024, who campaigned on promises of sovereignty and military independence.
While demanding that all foreign troops leave Senegal by the end of 2025, Faye has maintained a diplomatic tone, distinguishing Senegal’s approach from that of junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
“Senegal is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases,” Faye stated at the close of 2024, while reaffirming that France remains an important partner.
Roughly 350 French soldiers, who had been involved in joint operations with Senegalese forces, are now fully withdrawn.
Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and has historically maintained close ties with Paris.
Former President Macky Sall upheld this alliance, but Faye’s administration is reorienting Senegal’s foreign policy to reflect greater self-reliance and equity in international partnerships.
In a broader call for historical accountability, Faye has also urged France to issue an official apology for colonial-era atrocities, including the 1944 massacre of African soldiers who fought for France during World War II.
