After more than six decades of continuous presence, France on Thursday formally closed its last army bases in Senegal, marking the end of its permanent military footprint in West Africa.
The draw-down concluded with a solemn ceremony at Camp Geille in Ouakam, Dakar, attended by Senegal’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Mbaye Cissé, along with senior French and Senegalese military, diplomatic, and traditional authorities.
Highlighting the culmination of “several months of fraternal discussions,” Gen. Cissé underscored Senegal’s determination to build a “renewed partnership” with France, one rooted entirely in “mutual respect and the sovereignty of each side.”
Under the new cooperation framework, the bilateral relationship will focus primarily on instruction, training, and joint exercises, with scope to extend to any strategic activity the Senegalese Armed Forces deem necessary.
“True to our principles, the Senegalese Armed Forces are committed to establishing an effective, balanced partnership founded on mutual respect and the sovereignty of each party,” Cissé said, also paying tribute to the Ouakam community for its hospitality and to the crowds who came to thank the departing French forces.
General Pascal Ianni, Commander of French Forces for Africa, hailed the day’s historic significance: “We are gathered today to formalise the transfer to the Senegalese Armed Forces of Camp Geille, one of the strongest symbols of the military partnership between France and Senegal.”
A phased, coordinated withdrawal nationwide
Thursday’s event marked the final step in a carefully negotiated handing over timetable. By late March 2025, historic military installations such as Camp Maréchal (in Hann Park) and Camp Saint-Exupéry—both used for logistics and support—had already been turned over to the Senegalese military.
The Contre-Amiral Protet complex at the Port of Dakar was vacated at the same time. The inter-service transmission center in Rufisque, a key node for secure communications along the Atlantic coast, passed to Senegalese hands on July 1.
With the transfer of Camp Geille—long the nerve centre and final French stronghold—the French Elements in Senegal (EFS) have now formally ceased to exist, closing a chapter of uninterrupted military presence dating back to the country’s independence in 1960.
Carried out deliberately and by mutual agreement rather than in haste, the withdrawal reflects a consciously chosen shift toward a new security posture anchored in sovereignty and peer-to-peer partnership.
“This profound transformation in our relationship is not a break, but the opening of a new chapter,” Gen. Ianni concluded.
Going forward, Franco-Senegalese military cooperation will revolve around targeted training engagements and technical support in line with priorities defined by Dakar.
SS/ac/sf/lb/as/APA