France transfers military bases to Senegal in withdrawal move

On Friday, France officially handed over two military facilities to Senegal, marking the first step in ending its military presence in the West African nation, according to the French embassy.

“In accordance with the decision of the joint commission… the French side handed over facilities and accommodation in the Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry quarters to the Senegalese side,” the French embassy in Senegal said in a statement on its website.

Last month, both countries established a joint commission to oversee the withdrawal of French troops and the handover of French military bases by the end of 2025.

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the presence of French troops, calling it counterproductive to the country’s sovereignty. However, he stressed that Senegal remains open to collaboration with France, as long as it is devoid of military involvement.

For decades, French military bases in Africa were seen as key pillars of strategic partnerships, extending France’s influence far beyond its borders. With over 2,000 troops stationed across Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Chad, Senegal, and Djibouti, Paris relied heavily on these agreements to maintain its geopolitical foothold.

However, several African nations have recently moved to end France’s military and political influence within their borders. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have already expelled French forces and turned to Russia for military support against jihadist insurgencies.

In December, France also began withdrawing troops from Chad after its government, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants, abruptly terminated its defence cooperation pact with Paris.