France has begun its military withdrawal from Senegal, marking another step in West Africa’s push to reclaim full sovereignty from its former colonial ruler. The French embassy in Dakar confirmed the handover of two military facilities, following Senegal’s demand for an end to Paris’s military presence.
This transfer comes after a joint commission was set up to finalize the departure of roughly 350 French troops by the end of 2025. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had previously declared that foreign troops in the country were “incompatible” with national sovereignty.
French forces vacated facilities in Dakar’s Marechal and Saint-Exupery districts, with more sites to be handed over in the coming months. Senegal’s stance reflects a growing trend in West Africa, where nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have severed military ties with France, citing its failure to combat jihadist threats and opting instead for defense cooperation with Russia.
France has been steadily losing its foothold in the region. Just last month, it withdrew from Cote d’Ivoire, where it transferred control of the Port-Bouet military base. In January, Chad also expelled French troops, dismantling what had been Paris’s last stronghold in the Sahel. The move signals the continued unraveling of France’s once-dominant military influence in Africa.
