By Ali Elias
Paris Withdraws Troops, Hands Over Bases Amid Shift in Africa’s Foreign Policy Landscape
France has formally ended its 65-year military presence in Senegal, handing over its last two bases in a symbolic ceremony that marks a significant pivot in West Africa’s relationship with its former colonial ruler.
In a handover ceremony held Thursday, France returned Camp Geille, its largest military installation in Senegal, and an airfield at Dakar’s airport. The event was attended by top military officials from both countries, including Senegalese Chief of Staff General Mbaye Cisse and General Pascal Ianni, the head of French forces in Africa.
The move completes a three-month phased withdrawal involving some 350 French troops who had been conducting joint operations with Senegalese forces.
The exit follows calls by newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who campaigned on a platform of sovereignty and reform, to end foreign military presence in the country by 2025. “Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye said at the end of 2024.
However, he clarified that while the military bases must go, Senegal would continue to regard France as a valued partner.
France’s exit from Senegal is the latest in a continent-wide retreat. Over the past three years, France has closed or reduced its military presence in former colonies including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast, Chad, and the Central African Republic. Many of these nations have pivoted toward strategic alliances with Russia.
With this withdrawal, Djibouti remains France’s only permanent military base on the African continent, now slated to become Paris’ central military hub in Africa.
This broader shift reflects a recalibration of African foreign policy, as countries assert autonomy and reassess old alliances. France’s military drawdown marks not only the end of an era but also signals a changing tide in Africa’s international relations.
A Turning Point for Africa and France
France’s withdrawal from Senegal underscores a deeper recalibration of power and identity across the African continent. For Africa, particularly West Africa, this represents a growing desire for true sovereignty and a break from colonial vestiges. For France, it’s an invitation to redefine its engagement strategy—from boots on the ground to diplomacy, development, and mutual respect.
Whether this shift leads to stability or opens doors to new influences like Russia and China remains to be seen. But what is clear is that Africa is redrawing the lines of its partnerships, and France must adapt or be left behind.