Home West Africa France Troops Completely Withdraw from Senegal Ending 65-Year Presence

West Africa

France Troops Completely Withdraw from Senegal Ending 65-Year Presence

July 18, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

The French army has had a permanent base in Senegal since the country’s independence from France in 1969. Camp Geille, where around 350 French soldiers are stationed, is the last base to return to Senegalese command after several other military installations have been shut down since March last year.

France returned its last two military bases to Senegalese forces Thursday morning amid a wave of anti-French sentiment in West Africa. General Mbaye Cissé and Chief of the French command in Africa, Pascal Ianni, oversaw the official handover ceremony in Dakar, which marks the end of France’s 65-year presence in Senegal. He noted that the French and Senegalese armies had “defined new objectives” to “give new meaning to the security partnership” between the two countries, adding that the Senegalese armed forces are looking forward to consolidating the many achievements made in the quest for strategic autonomy.

In December, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared that his government would work towards ending foreign military presence on Senegalese soil by 2025. The announcement followed growing criticisms of neo-colonial influence in Senegal, which culminated in several French-owned businesses being torched and looted during mass demonstrations in 2021.

Several scandals have soured the relationship between Senegal and its former colonial ruler. Members of the Tirailleurs Senegalais unit, who fought in France’s war against Nazi Germany, had been protesting delays in salaries and poor living conditions when colonial soldiers shot them.

The closure of the Senegalese military operation is just the latest diplomatic blow to France as a wave of French-critical governments has ascended to power in West Africa.