France transferred control of its final military installations to Senegal
In a significant development, France has decided to withdraw its military presence from Senegal and other West African countries, marking the end of a 65-year-long military relationship that began with Senegal's independence in 1960. The decision comes amidst a wave of regional politics, strategic shifts, and changing bilateral relations.
Growing anti-French sentiment in the region, particularly in Senegal, has been a major factor. Protests and nationalist rhetoric, especially among youth and opposition groups, have increasingly viewed the French military presence as a relic of neocolonialism, making such deployments politically unsustainable.
Moreover, France's prior extensive military involvement in the Sahel region, including operations like Barkhane, failed to stabilize the area and faced significant setbacks, including coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which expelled French troops. Senegal was the last major French military foothold in West Africa, but maintaining it became isolated and risky, prompting France to end its permanent military bases in the region.
The election of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in 2024 on a platform emphasizing sovereignty and reducing French influence has been a central factor. President Faye explicitly demanded the withdrawal of all French troops by 2025 as part of redefining Senegal's foreign relations and asserting autonomy from Paris.
Senegal's military leadership supports the withdrawal, viewing it as a step toward affirming the autonomy of their armed forces and developing a new national and regional defense strategy aimed at peace and stability independent of foreign permanent bases.
The withdrawals by Senegal, Gabon, and Ivory Coast may signal a broader trend of African countries distancing themselves from France. Russia has become a more prominent presence in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, following their distancing from France.
France now has one military support point left in the east African country of Djibouti, with about 1,500 soldiers. The handover ceremony took place at Camp Geille in Dakar, attended by the chiefs of staff of both countries.
This withdrawal marks a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of West and Central Africa, potentially leading to a power vacuum in the regions left by Senegal, Gabon, and Ivory Coast. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the strategic position of France in the region.
Community aid and vocational training programs may become more important in Senegal and other West African countries as France withdraws its military presence, seeking alternatives for long-term engagement. This development, driven by changing regional politics, war-and-conflicts, and general-news factors such as anti-French sentiment and the desire for increased sovereignty, could lead to increased migration as residents seek opportunities elsewhere.
