France formally concluded its military presence in Senegal on Thursday, handing over its final two military installations to Senegalese control and bringing an end to centuries of French presence in West Africa.
The French military transferred authority over Camp Geille—its largest base in Senegal—and its airfield at Dakar’s international airport. The handover marked the final stage of a withdrawal that began in March, with the last 350 French troops now departed from the country.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye first announced the withdrawal on November 29, 2023, declaring that the presence of French forces was “incompatible” with Senegal’s sovereignty. His statement echoed a growing sentiment across the region, where several former French colonies have sought to sever military ties with Paris and assert greater independence in the post-colonial era.
Over the past four years, France—long the dominant foreign power in West Africa—has seen its influence erode rapidly. French forces have been expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. Even Ivory Coast, once a cornerstone of French regional policy, requested a troop withdrawal earlier this year, which was completed in February.
In 2016, the Central African Republic also ended its defense agreements with France, instead turning to Russia’s Wagner Group to assist in its ongoing civil war.
France’s military footprint in Africa has shrunk dramatically. Today, it maintains only two remaining garrisons—one in Djibouti and another in Gabon—with a combined 2,000 troops. Just a few years ago, that number stood at approximately 6,700.
As France’s influence has waned, new geopolitical players have stepped in. Russia and China have expanded their presence in the region, filling both security and economic roles. In Mali, for example, Russia has replaced France as Bamako’s main security partner in its fight against Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups.
This shift has drawn fresh attention from Western intelligence agencies. Notably, Ukrainian operatives have been reported in Mali over the past year, training anti-government fighters in drone warfare. In 2024, Ukraine acknowledged its role in assisting a jihadist unit in targeting a Russian convoy, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Wagner personnel.
France’s retreat from West Africa signals not only the collapse of its regional dominance but also the intensification of a broader global contest for influence across the continent.