On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, France handed over a military communications centre in Rufisque, near Dakar, to Senegal, marking a pivotal step in its full withdrawal of troops from the West African nation. This transfer, part of a process that began in March 2025, follows a directive from Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who announced late last year that France must close all its military bases in the country by the end of 2025.
The Rufisque facility, which has managed communications along the southern Atlantic coast since Senegal’s independence in 1960, now stands as a symbol of Senegal’s push for greater sovereignty and a redefined relationship with its former colonial power. Senegal has been a steadfast ally of France since gaining independence in 1960, maintaining close ties through decades of political and economic cooperation. However, President Faye, who took office in 2024 following elections in March, has shifted the tone of this partnership. He has pledged to treat France as any other foreign partner, emphasising Senegal’s independence over historical ties.
This stance became clear last December when Faye called for the closure of all French military bases, arguing that their presence clashed with the nation’s sovereignty. “Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” he declared in an interview at the presidential palace. His comments followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s acknowledgement of France’s role in the 1944 Thiaroye massacre of Senegalese soldiers, an apology Faye welcomed but deemed insufficient to justify a continued military presence. The handover of the Rufisque base is more than a symbolic gesture; it carries immediate practical consequences.
As of July 1, 2025, all Senegalese staff employed by French troops in the country were dismissed, signalling the end of an era. Yet, Faye has been careful to clarify that this move does not mean a complete rupture with France. Unlike neighbouring West African nations such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have expelled French forces and turned to Russia for military support, Senegal intends to preserve its relationship with Paris. “Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade.
Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” Faye explained, illustrating his vision for a partnership free of foreign military oversight but rich in economic and diplomatic exchange. This development aligns with broader changes in France’s military strategy across Africa. In the summer of 2020, President Macron first hinted at rethinking France’s military posture on the continent, promising to reassess and restructure the Barkhane force, which had been fighting terrorism in the Sahel. By February 2023, he announced a clear reduction in troop numbers, driven in part by growing anti-French sentiment in former colonies and increasing competition from nations like Russia. France has since completed withdrawals from Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and Ivory Coast, and Senegal now joins this list. Under a plan being discussed with African partners, France will scale back its “pre-positioned” forces significantly.
In Gabon, troop numbers will drop from 350 to about 100, and in Senegal, the contingent will shrink from 350 to 100 soldiers. Meanwhile, France plans to reposition its military headquarters for Africa in Djibouti, where it currently maintains around 1,500 personnel. For Senegal, the timing of this shift carries historical weight, coinciding with the approach of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre in December 2024. Faye’s push to remove French bases reflects a wider trend in West Africa, where nations are reevaluating their relationships with former colonial powers. Yet, Senegal’s approach stands apart from its neighbours.
While France remains a key partner in trade and investment, Faye’s administration seeks a dynamic where military dependence is replaced by cooperation on equal footing. France’s military drawdown in Africa, including Senegal, is part of a deliberate pivot. After years of maintaining a robust presence to counter security threats, Paris is now focusing on smaller, more targeted operations, such as its Special Operations Task Force “Takuba.” The reduction in Senegal and Gabon, alongside the consolidation in Djibouti, shows a shift toward a leaner footprint, one that relies less on large bases and more on strategic partnerships. For Senegal, this opens the door to greater control over its territory and resources, free from the long shadow of foreign troops.
