French military personnel have vacated their posts at the final two facilities in Senegal.
In a significant move, Senegal's President, Macky Sall, announced the end of France's 65-year military presence in Senegal, marking the culmination of a broader strategic shift in West Africa. The withdrawal was highlighted by the official handover of key military bases, including Camp Geille and associated air facilities, to the Senegalese government in July 2025 [1][2][4].
President Sall's statements, made at the end of November 2024, emphasised Senegal's sovereignty and independence, stating that the country should not host permanent foreign forces on its territory. He pledged to treat France as any other foreign partner rather than maintaining a special colonial-era relationship [2][4].
The withdrawal supports Senegal's new defence strategy aimed at affirming the autonomy of its armed forces and redefining its security partnerships on its own terms, without permanent foreign military presence [1][4]. This decision was also a response to growing domestic opposition to the French military presence, which was increasingly viewed as a symbol of neocolonialism [2][3].
France, too, viewed the pullout as part of a strategic retreat from a diminishing role in West Africa. The withdrawal marked the end of a 65-year military presence in Senegal since its independence in 1960 [1][2][3]. The French military has also vacated the last two military bases in Senegal.
President Sall did not specify the exact war crimes that were committed against Senegalese soldiers by the French army 80 years ago, nor did he discuss any potential repercussions or responses from France regarding the demands for apologies and acknowledgment of these war crimes. He also did not confirm or deny any future plans for French military presence in Senegal or West and Central Africa [1][2][3][4].
Senegal was once a French colony, and the concept of Senegalese sovereignty, as declared by President Faye, was incompatible with the presence of French military bases on its territory. The withdrawal is a significant step towards reclaiming sovereignty, reducing dependence on France, and adjusting to evolving regional political realities [1][2][3][4].
References: [1] BBC News (2025). France ends military presence in Senegal after 65 years. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-57879710
[2] The Guardian (2025). Senegal ends France's 65-year military presence. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/01/senegal-ends-frances-65-year-military-presence
[3] Reuters (2024). Senegal's Macky Sall calls for French apology for war crimes. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegals-macky-sall-calls-french-apology-war-crimes-2024-11-30/
[4] The Economist (2025). The end of France's military presence in Senegal. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/07/09/the-end-of-frances-military-presence-in-senegal
- The withdrawal of France's military presence from Senegal marks a response to growing migration towards reclaiming sovereignty, as domestic opposition to foreign military presence in war-and-conflicts contexts increasingly view it as a symbol of neocolonialism and is incompatible with the country's politics of independence.
- In the face of political shifts in West Africa, Senegal's new defense strategy aims to affirm the autonomy of its armed forces and redefine security partnerships, aiming to minimize general-news controversies surrounding permanent foreign military presence.
