NEWS

Senegal Achieves Milestone as France Ends 65-Year Military Presence

In a historic move symbolizing a significant stride toward full sovereignty, France has officially concluded its military presence in Senegal after 65 years. This momentous development follows the handover of Camp Geille, France’s largest military base in the country, along with a strategic airfield located at Dakar’s international airport.

The symbolic withdrawal was marked by a formal ceremony attended by both French and Senegalese officials, signifying the final phase of a disengagement process that began in March 2025. Roughly 350 French troops, previously engaged in joint operations with Senegalese forces, are scheduled to complete their withdrawal within the next three months.

This move is not only historic but reflective of a growing wave across Africa, where former colonies are increasingly reclaiming autonomy and redefining their relationships with former colonial powers. In recent years, several West African nations have pushed back against continued foreign military presence, seeking to chart their own security and political paths.

Senegal’s insistence on this withdrawal deserves special commendation. In choosing to stand firm and demand full control of its military infrastructure, the country has sent a clear message: true independence goes beyond flags and anthems—it requires control over national defense and strategic sovereignty.

Analysts say the decision aligns with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s bold commitment to strengthening national institutions and asserting Senegal’s place as a self-determining power in Africa.

While France maintains that the move is in line with evolving bilateral relations and regional priorities, many observers see it as a clear reflection of changing dynamics between France and its former African colonies.

As the tricolor flag is lowered over military installations now returned to Senegalese control, the moment stands as a powerful symbol of a new era—one where African nations are reclaiming space to define their futures, on their own terms.

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