The pullout follows President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s election pledge to end foreign military presence by 2025, though Senegal will continue diplomatic ties with Paris.
France has formally handed over its last two military bases in Senegal, drawing a close to more than six decades of military presence in the West African nation.
In a ceremony attended by Senegalese Chief of General Staff General Mbaye Cisse and French General Pascal Ianni, Camp Geille and the adjacent Dakar airport airfield were transferred to Senegalese control.
The withdrawal of about 350 French soldiers marks the end of a departure process that began in March. “An important turning point in the rich and long military journey of our two countries,” General Cisse said.
General Ianni called it the close of “a very special relationship,” and noted that France is “reinventing partnerships in a dynamic Africa.”
The pullout follows President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s election pledge to end foreign military presence by 2025, though Senegal will continue diplomatic ties with Paris.
Unlike other former colonies like Mali and Niger, Senegal has not cut ties with France completely. But Faye has urged an apology for colonial atrocities, including the 1944 massacre of African WWII veterans.
France now retains only one permanent base in Africa — in Djibouti.
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### Suggested Extracts:
* “We are turning a page in the military history of our two countries,” said French General Pascal Ianni.
* “An important turning point,” said Senegal’s General Cisse during the handover ceremony.
* President Faye’s push for full sovereignty comes amid growing African resistance to France’s military role.