France has started transferring several military bases in Senegal to Senegalese control, marking a significant step in the withdrawal of French troops from the West African nation.
The move comes as part of a broader plan to reduce France’s military presence in Senegal, where it has maintained bases since 1960. The French embassy in Dakar confirmed that facilities and housing in the Marechal and Saint-Exupery districts have already been handed over.
“The commission also launched work to overhaul the bilateral defence and security partnership,” a statement read. This follows the establishment of a joint commission between France and Senegal on February 12 to oversee the withdrawal process.
The commission held its first meeting on February 28, focusing on the logistics of returning military sites by the end of the year. Other bases “will be returned according to the jointly agreed schedule,” the embassy added, though no specific timeline was provided.
Senegal, which gained independence from France in 1960, has long been one of its closest allies in West Africa. However, the new government elected in 2024 has signaled a shift in its approach to foreign relations.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who campaigned on a platform of change, announced in November that all French and foreign troops would leave Senegal by the end of 2025. This decision reflects the government’s commitment to treating France as an equal among other international partners.
The withdrawal will have significant implications for local staff employed by the French military. In a letter to a local labor leader, the troops’ commander confirmed that these employees will lose their jobs by July 1.
The French military bases in Dakar and surrounding areas directly employ 162 people, with an additional 400 to 500 working in subcontracted industries. To address the impact, the French army organized a careers forum on Thursday to help the 162 affected staff find “redeployment opportunities” within local companies.
