KEY POINTS
- France has begun transferring military facilities to Senegalese authorities.
- Several West African countries have cut military ties with France.
- The future of Senegal’s defense strategy remains uncertain.
France has officially begun withdrawing its military presence from Senegal, marking a significant shift in West Africa’s geopolitical landscape.
On Friday, French authorities transferred control of two military facilities in Dakar to Senegalese officials, in what is seen as the first concrete step toward ending France’s military footprint in the country.
According to a statement from the French embassy in Senegal, the facilities handed over were located in the Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry quarters.
The move on France military withdrawal follows an agreement reached last month between France and Senegal, which established a joint commission to oversee the transfer of military bases and the withdrawal of 350 French troops by the end of 2025.
According to Reuters, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been vocal about his stance on foreign military presence.
In his New Year’s Eve address, he reiterated his commitment to ending the deployment of foreign forces in Senegal, stating that their presence was incompatible with the nation’s sovereignty.
West Africa moves away from French military influence
Senegal joins other Western African states in moving away from French military personnel as part of a regional trend toward colonial independence.
The recent years have seen Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger force out French military personnel who then chose to deepen their Russian military relationship.
Meanwhile, Chad followed the Western counterterrorism alliance by declaring military independent status from France after a sudden end to their defense partnership in December.
These shifts demonstrate an increasing West African regional effort for security independence through new military partnerships, thus altering the power dynamics of the region.
Political tensions and local opposition triggered France to reevaluate its regional military position which it had previously sustained through long-term engagement.
Some analysts believe that French military actions in foreign countries are unsuccessful at defeating insurgency movements, yet other observers connect these actions to continuing colonial policies.
Future of military cooperation remains uncertain
The officially initiated French military pullout from Senegal leaves uncertainties regarding mutually beneficial defense partnerships between the two countries.
The French embassy has stated that further handovers will take place according to a mutually agreed-upon timeline, but details regarding security agreements beyond 2025 have not been disclosed.
Senegal’s government has yet to clarify whether it intends to form new military partnerships with other nations or rely solely on its forces for national security.
With instability persisting in parts of West Africa, particularly in the Sahel, the country’s next steps in defense strategy will be closely watched.
As France continues its broader military disengagement from the region, the long-term impact of these withdrawals on security and diplomatic relations remains to be seen.
