The French army ended its permanent military presence in West and Central Africa today, during a solemn and historic ceremony in Dakar where it officially handed over its last two military bases to Senegal.
This French withdrawal, begun in recent years, comes at a time when the Sahel region is facing increasing and very deadly jihadist attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The handover ceremony was held today in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, which has hosted French forces since independence in 1960.
The symbolic handover of the keys to Camp Jey, the largest French military facility in Senegal, and the French military air base at Dakar Airport, took place between the Chief of the General Staff of Senegal, General Mbaye Cisse, and General Pascal Janny, Head of the French Army Command for Africa.
As of 2022, the French military has ended its permanent presence in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Ivory Coast, and Gabon.
After gaining independence, Senegal remained one of the most reliable African allies of France, the former dominant colonial power in West Africa.
However, the new leaders in power since April 2024 have promised to treat France as an equal partner, in the name of restored sovereignty.
Senegalese President Basirou Dioumaj Fay said in November 2024 that the presence of all French and other foreign military forces should be eliminated by the end of 2025.
"Senegal is an independent country, a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not allow the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," Fay said, adding that this was not an act of "disruption" but rather a new partnership.
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