France withdraws troops from Senegal, ending its military presence in West Africa
In a moment heavy with history and symbolism, France has officially ended its decades-long military presence in Senegal, closing the chapter on its last permanent base in West Africa.
On Thursday, Camp Geille in Ouakam, Dakar, was formally handed over to Senegalese authorities, drawing a quiet curtain on an era that began shortly after Senegal gained independence from France in 1960.
The ceremony was attended by Senegal’s Chief of General Staff, General Mbaye Cissé, and Major General Pascal Ianni, head of French military command in Africa.
The final handover followed a phased departure that began in March 2025, with the restitution of the Marechal and Saint-Exupéry sites, the Contre-Amiral Protet installation in May, and the Rufisque post in early July.
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The withdrawal of roughly 350 French troops marks the end of France’s military footprint in Senegal and, more broadly, West Africa.
“This marks a new phase in our military relationship,” General Ianni said. “It reflects France’s decision to end permanent bases in West and Central Africa, and responds to the Senegalese authorities’ wish to no longer host foreign forces on their soil.”
General Mbaye Cissé, Senegal’s military chief, echoed that sentiment. “The withdrawal supports our new defence strategy,” he said. “Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion, in Africa, and globally.”
The exit agreement was finalised by a Franco-Senegalese joint committee on May 16 , in line with the 2012 defence cooperation pact between the two nations.
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But political momentum had already shifted earlier in the year. In February, talks began following a public call by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for foreign troops to vacate Senegalese territory.
“Senegal is an independent and sovereign nation,” Faye declared last year. “Sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of foreign military bases.”
His words resonated across a region increasingly sceptical of France’s long-standing military role. In recent years, public sentiment has turned sharply against what many view as a vestige of colonial influence and a symbol of dependency.
France’s military withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Chad were all triggered by political tensions, coups, and accusations of neocolonial interference.
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