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Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
French Military Withdraws from Last Base in Senegal
Rabat – The French military handed over its last military base and withdrew its troops on Thursday. This marks the end of a departure process that started in March. France has officially handed over its two remaining military bases in Senegal, leaving the one-time colonial power with no permanent presence in West Africa. The largest Military Camp Geille and the Airfield at Dakar have been officially presented to the Senegalese national armed forces. This final handover was conducted during a ceremony on Thursday, attended by the top French and Senegalese officers, including the West African country's military chief Mbaye Cisse. Cisse said that this withdrawal supports the country's new defence strategy. 'Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion and Africa,' he affirmed. This mutually agreed upon withdrawal is designed to begin a new phase of French–Senegalese bilateral relations, argued General Pascal Innai, head of the French forces. This handover follows a three-month withdrawal process which has taken place since March, with the removal of 350 French military troops from their bases they have controlled since granting their former African colonies independence in 1960. The new Senegalese President who was elected on a substantial mandate in 2024, stated shortly after taking office that having troops and military bases in Senegal was incompatible with national sovereignty. Senegal's new government took a hard line against the presence of French troops, coming within a broader regional backlash against the former colonial nation. France also withdrew earlier this year from its permanent bases in Chad and the Ivory Coast. The governments in the new Alliance of Sahel States have expelled the French both militarily and diplomatically. France will retain a small presence in some of these countries for the purposes of providing defense training and support to national militaries. But whatever form France's presence takes in Africa in the coming years, this withdrawal marks the formal end of Paris's neo-colonialist military presence within the West African region.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
French army leaves Senegal ending military presence in west Africa
DAKAR: France on Thursday formally handed back its last two military bases in Senegal, leaving Paris with no permanent camps in either west or central Africa. Ending the French army's 65 years in Senegal, the pull-out comes after similar withdrawals across the continent, with former colonies increasingly turning their backs on their former ruler. The French withdrawal comes as the Sahel region faces a growing jihadist conflict across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that is threatening Gulf of Guinea nations to the south. A recent string of attacks this month in Mali included an assault on a town on the border with Senegal. France returned Camp Geille, its largest base in the west African country, and its airfield at Dakar airport, in a ceremony attended by top French and Senegalese officials, including Senegalese chief of staff General Mbaye Cisse and General Pascal Ianni, the head of the French forces in Africa. Around 350 French soldiers, primarily tasked with conducting joint operations with the Senegalese army, are now leaving, marking the end of a three-month departure process that began in March. After storming to victory in 2024 elections promising radical change, Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye demanded France withdraw troops from the country by 2025. Unlike the leaders of other former colonies such as junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, however, Faye has insisted that Senegal will keep working with Paris. After gaining independence in 1960, Senegal became one of France's staunchest African allies, playing host to French troops throughout its history. Faye's predecessor, Macky Sall, continued that tradition. Faye, who ran on a ticket promising a clean break with the Sall era, has said that Senegal would treat France like any other foreign partner. Pledging to make his country more self-sufficient, the president gave a deadline of the end of 2025 for all foreign armies to withdraw. 'Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,' Faye said at the end of 2024, while maintaining that 'France remains an important partner for Senegal'. Faye has also urged Paris to apologise for colonial atrocities, including the massacre on December 1, 1944 of dozens of African troops who had fought for France in World War II. With governments across Africa increasingly questioning France's military presence, Paris has closed or reduced numbers at bases across its former empire. In February France handed back its sole remaining base in Ivory Coast, ending decades of French presence at the site. The month before, France turned over the Kossei base in Chad, its last military foothold in the unrest-hit Sahel region. Coups in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali between 2020 and 2023 have swept military strongmen to power. All have cut ties with France and turned to Russia instead for help in fighting the Sahel's decade-long jihadist insurgency.
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
French military era ends in West Africa as Senegal reclaims last base
France has formally dismissed its decades-long military presence in Senegal, handing over its last remaining military facility to local authorities during a ceremony on Thursday. France has formally ended its military presence in Senegal by transferring its last base to Senegalese authorities. The base handover occurred during a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both nations. The retreat is part of France's broader reduction of military presence across West Africa. The last post, Camp Geille in Ouakam, Dakar, was handed over to Senegalese administration in a solemn ceremony attended by Senegal's Chief of General Staff, General Mbaye Cisse, and Major General Pascal Ianni, head of the French military command in Africa. This transfer came after a number of prior restitutions, including the Marechal and Saint-Exupery sites in March, the Contre-Amiral Protet installation in May, and the Rufisque military post in early July. The exit was agreed upon by a Franco-Senegalese joint committee on May 16 and is consistent with the two nations' military cooperation pact from 2012. France and Senegal began discussions in February 2025 to consider the exit, following similar withdrawals in other West African countries. According to Euronews, this event coincides with the rise of anti-French sentiment in the region and signifies the end of France's military presence in West Africa. France has been progressively diminishing its military presence in Africa, most notably retreating from the Sahel region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger due to diplomatic issues and growing public resistance. France's military exit in West Africa in recent years France handed up its last military facility in Chad in January 2025, just as tensions between the two countries worsened. Chad went on to accuse France of undermining its democracy, particularly in light of a January 8 attack on its presidential palace by a group of 24 people, which strained bilateral relations even more. Chad's move comes barely a year after France's cessation of military cooperation with Gabon in September 2023, following the overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The coup, led by military personnel who questioned Bongo's third term, installed General Brice Oligui Nguema as leader of the transitional government. France, which had generally supported pro-Western regimes in Africa, promptly cut military ties with Gabon's new administration. In 2022, Mali expelled France's ambassador, causing France to withdraw its troops and the Takuba force, thereby ending their military partnership. France's 4,500-strong Operation Barkhane army withdrew from Mali in August 2022, while French forces left Burkina Faso in February 2023. The 400-member Operation Sabre, which was sent in 2009 to combat armed organizations such as al-Qaeda in the region, discreetly withdrew after Burkina Faso's military-led government requested their leave in January, citing a four-week withdrawal deadline. France's military departure from Senegal reflects a larger rethinking of France's position in its former colonies, where anger of neocolonial ties, security failings, and perceived intervention in internal matters has pushed governments and citizens to want complete autonomy.
Arab News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
French army leaves Senegal, ending military presence in west Africa
DAKAR: France on Thursday formally handed back its last two military bases in Senegal, leaving Paris with no permanent army camps in either west or central Africa. Ending the French army's 65 years in independent Senegal, the pull-out comes after similar withdrawals across the continent, with former colonies increasingly turning their backs on their former ruler. The move comes as the Sahel region faces a growing jihadist conflict across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that is threatening the wider west African region. A recent string of attacks this month in Mali included an assault on a town on the border with Senegal. France returned Camp Geille, its largest base in the west African country, and its airfield at Dakar airport, in a ceremony attended by top French and Senegalese officials. They included Senegalese chief of staff General Mbaye Cisse and General Pascal Ianni, the head of the French forces in Africa. Cisse said the handover marked 'an important turning point in the rich and long military journey of our two countries.' He said the 'new objectives' were aimed at 'giving new content to the security partnership.' Senegalese troops were working 'to consolidate the numerous skills gained it its quest for strategic autonomy,' he added. The general ended his speech with a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the French author of 'The Little Prince,' who spent several months in Dakar: 'For each ending there is always a new departure.' Ianni said Paris was 'reinventing partnerships in a dynamic Africa.' 'We have to do things differently, and we don't need permanent bases to do so,' he said. The French general however insisted that the pull-out 'takes nothing away from the sacrifices made yesterday by our brothers-in-arms in Africa for our respective interests.' Around 350 French soldiers, primarily tasked with conducting joint operations with the Senegalese army, are now leaving, marking the end of a three-month departure process that began in March. After storming to victory in 2024 elections promising radical change, Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye demanded France withdraw troops from the country by 2025. Unlike the leaders of other former colonies such as junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, however, Faye has insisted that Senegal will keep working with Paris. Reinventing partnerships Senegal was one of France's first colonies in Africa. After gaining independence in 1960, Senegal became one of France's staunchest African allies, playing host to French troops throughout its modern history. Faye's predecessor, Macky Sall, continued that tradition. However Faye, who ran on a ticket promising a clean break with the Sall era, has said that Senegal will treat France like any other foreign partner. Pledging to make his country more self-sufficient, the president gave a deadline of the end of 2025 for all foreign armies to withdraw. 'Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,' Faye said at the end of 2024. He maintained nonetheless that France remained 'an important partner for Senegal.' Faye has also urged Paris to apologize for colonial atrocities, including the massacre on December 1, 1944, of dozens of African soldiers who had fought for France in World War II. A lawmaker from the president's ruling Pastef party, Guy Marius Sagna, hailed Thursday's 'end to the presence of the French occupying army.' 'Bravo to President Diomaye Faye!... Bravo to the patriots! Decolonization continues,' he told the press. French former empire With governments across Africa increasingly questioning the presence of French soldiers, Paris has closed or reduced numbers at bases across its former empire. In February, Paris handed back its sole remaining base in Ivory Coast, ending decades of French presence at the site. The month before, France turned over the Kossei base in Chad, its last military foothold in the unrest-hit Sahel region. Coups in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali between 2020 and 2023 have swept military strongmen to power. All have cut ties with France and turned to Russia instead for help in fighting the Sahel's decade-long jihadist insurgency. The Central African Republic, also a former French colony to which the Kremlin has sent mercenaries, has likewise demanded a French pull-out. Meanwhile, the army has turned its base in Gabon into a camp shared with the central African nation focused on training. Only the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti will play host to a permanent French army base following Thursday's withdrawal. France intends to make its base in Djibouti, home to some 1,500 people, its military headquarters for Africa.
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First Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
France withdraws from Senegal after 65 years, ends military presence in Central, West Africa
France has handed over the last military base in Senegal to the country's government. Now France does not have any permanent military presence in central and western Africa. The pushback against French presence has come in recent years even as jihadist insurgency has gained traction lately. read more Advertisement Senegal's Chief of General Staff, General Mbaye Cisse (R), and France's General Pascal Ianni, who commands France's troops in Africa, salute as the Senegalese flag is raised during a ceremony where France will return Camp Geille, its largest base in the country, and its airfield at Dakar airport, in Dakar on July 17, 2025. (Photo: Patrick Meinhardt/AFP) France on Thursday formally handed back its last two military bases in Senegal, leaving Paris with no permanent army camps in either west or central Africa. Ending the French army's 65 years in independent Senegal, the pull-out comes after similar withdrawals across the continent, with former colonies increasingly turning their backs on their former ruler. The move comes as the Sahel region faces a growing jihadist conflict across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that is threatening the wider west African region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A recent string of attacks this month in Mali included an assault on a town on the border with Senegal. France returned Camp Geille, its largest base in the west African country, and its airfield at Dakar airport, in a ceremony attended by top French and Senegalese officials. They included Senegalese chief of staff General Mbaye Cisse and General Pascal Ianni, the head of the French forces in Africa. Cisse said the handover marked 'an important turning point in the rich and long military journey of our two countries'. He said the 'new objectives' were aimed at 'giving new content to the security partnership'. Senegalese troops were working 'to consolidate the numerous skills gained it its quest for strategic autonomy', he added. The general ended his speech with a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the French author of 'The Little Prince', who spent several months in Dakar: 'For each ending there is always a new departure.' Ianni said Paris was 'reinventing partnerships in a dynamic Africa'. 'We have to do things differently, and we don't need permanent bases to do so,' he said. The French general however insisted that the pull-out 'takes nothing away from the sacrifices made yesterday by our brothers-in-arms in Africa for our respective interests'. Around 350 French soldiers, primarily tasked with conducting joint operations with the Senegalese army, are now leaving, marking the end of a three-month departure process that began in March. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After storming to victory in 2024 elections promising radical change, Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye demanded France withdraw troops from the country by 2025. Unlike the leaders of other former colonies such as junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, however, Faye has insisted that Senegal will keep working with Paris. 'Sovereignty' Senegal was one of France's first colonies in Africa. After gaining independence in 1960, Senegal became one of France's staunchest African allies, playing host to French troops throughout its modern history. Faye's predecessor, Macky Sall, continued that tradition. However Faye, who ran on a ticket promising a clean break with the Sall era, has said that Senegal will treat France like any other foreign partner. Pledging to make his country more self-sufficient, the president gave a deadline of the end of 2025 for all foreign armies to withdraw. 'Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,' Faye said at the end of 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He maintained nonetheless that France remained 'an important partner for Senegal'. Faye has also urged Paris to apologise for colonial atrocities, including the massacre on December 1, 1944, of dozens of African soldiers who had fought for France in World War II. Continent-wide pull-out With governments across Africa increasingly questioning the presence of French soldiers, Paris has closed or reduced numbers at bases across its former empire. In February, Paris handed back its sole remaining base in Ivory Coast, ending decades of French presence at the site. The month before, France turned over the Kossei base in Chad, its last military foothold in the unrest-hit Sahel region. Coups in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali between 2020 and 2023 have swept military strongmen to power. All have cut ties with France and turned to Russia instead for help in fighting the Sahel's decade-long jihadist insurgency. The Central African Republic, also a former French colony to which the Kremlin has sent mercenaries, has likewise demanded a French pull-out. Meanwhile the army has turned its base in Gabon into a camp shared with the central African nation focused on training. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Only the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti will play host to a permanent French army base following Thursday's withdrawal. France intends to make its base in Djibouti, home to some 1,500 people, its military headquarters for Africa. (This is an agency copy. Except for the headline, the copy has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
