France will formally hand over its remaining military bases in Senegal on Thursday, concluding a three-month withdrawal process and marking the end of its 65-year military presence in the West African nation.
The handover, which includes Camp Geille and the French airfield at Dakar airport, will leave France without a permanent military base in West and Central Africa, as part of a wider recalibration of French defence posture on the continent.
About 350 French soldiers, who were previously engaged in joint operations with Senegalese forces, are expected to complete their exit from the country. The move follows a directive issued by Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who campaigned in 2024 on a platform of national sovereignty and a clear departure from the policies of his predecessor, Macky Sall.
President Faye has maintained that while Senegal seeks a more self-sufficient and sovereign defence structure, it will continue to treat France as a partner — albeit on equal terms.
“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.
Unlike the confrontational exits seen in countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — where military juntas cut ties with France and embraced Russian support — Senegal’s decision has been marked by diplomatic cooperation and mutual respect. Both nations have reiterated their commitment to continued bilateral relations outside the scope of military presence.
Senegalese Chief of General Staff, General Mbaye Cisse, and French Africa Commander, General Pascal Ianni, are scheduled to attend the official handover ceremony in Dakar.
The development comes amid a wave of French military pullouts across its former colonies. France closed its last base in Côte d’Ivoire earlier this year and handed over the Kossei base in Chad, its final Sahelian outpost, in January. The Central African Republic has also requested France’s withdrawal, while French troops in Gabon have transitioned to a joint-operations model.
After Thursday’s withdrawal, France’s only remaining permanent base on the continent will be in Djibouti, located in the Horn of Africa. The facility will now serve as Paris’ principal military headquarters in Africa, hosting approximately 1,500 personnel.
President Faye has also called on France to issue a formal apology for colonial-era atrocities, including the December 1, 1944 massacre of African soldiers who fought for France in World War II.
The Senegalese government says the move is part of a broader policy to reclaim national autonomy and reframe international partnerships on the country’s own terms.
