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Senegal ends French military presence: Last troops withdraw amid rising anti-colonial sentiment in the region
2025-07-17 23:49:05 / BOTA
Senegal's new government has completed the withdrawal of French troops from its territory, ending a permanent military presence that has lasted since the country's independence in 1960.
The departure of French forces from Camp Geille in the capital Dakar was marked by an official ceremony, which symbolizes a major turning point in relations between the two countries and in Senegal's defense policy.
This development comes in an increasingly tense climate in the region over the French colonial legacy, with many West African countries withdrawing French troops and seeking new alternatives for their national security.
Senegal's new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, had earlier called for the removal of foreign troops, calling it a necessary step to preserve the country's full sovereignty.
"Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not include the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," he declared in 2023.
French General Pascal Ianni, in his comments during the handover of the base, said that this was a “new chapter in military relations” and reflected France’s decision to conclude its permanent military presence in West and Central Africa.
Meanwhile, Senegal's army chief, General Mbaye Cissé, declared that the departure of foreign troops supports the new national defense strategy and "affirms the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces."
The withdrawal of 350 French troops was carried out over a three-month period that began in March. France has seen a series of similar withdrawals in the region — including in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso — where new, military-led governments have rejected French aid and sought military support from Russia.
Meanwhile, Paris has announced that it will pursue a new model of military cooperation, involving limited training and support, based on the specific requirements of partner countries, while maintaining a permanent presence only in Djibouti and a joint camp in Gabon.
With the end of the mission in Senegal, France loses the last place in West Africa with a permanent military base, thus marking a new chapter in the efforts of African countries to sever ties with colonial influence and build more independent foreign and security policies.
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