GNV News, July 23, 2025
On July 17, 2025, France’s military bases in Senegal were handed over to Senegal, and the 65-year presence ended. The withdrawal was led by Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who won by a wide margin in the 2024 election. Faye has emphasized Senegal’s sovereignty and independence and had indicated a policy of calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces stationed in the country. While he called for the withdrawal of French forces, he has also signaled that cooperation with France will continue.
This withdrawal is not limited to Senegal. Following the coups in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali between 2020 and 2023, deteriorating relations with the military regimes that took power in these countries led the French military to withdraw. Beyond these countries, France also withdrew from the Central African Republic in 2022, from Chad in January 2025, and from Côte d’Ivoire in February.
As of now, two countries in Africa still host French troops. In one of them, Gabon, French forces are stationed, but the base is managed as a jointly owned facility; at present, the only country in Africa where France maintains a permanent base is Djibouti, as it stands.
Learn more about Senegalese politics → 「Democracy in Senegal」
Learn more about the situation in West Africa → 「Changing international relations in West Africa」
0 Comments