Senegal has announced the closure of all foreign military bases, a decision articulated on Friday by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko during a policy address to the National Assembly. While no specific timeline for the exit of foreign troops was provided, Sonko stated, “The President of the Republic has decided to close all foreign military bases in the very near future.”
The announcement came as France’s military and Foreign Ministry had not immediately responded. Last month, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed a desire to close the French military bases in Senegal, asserting that “Senegal is an independent country, a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of foreign military bases.”
This decision primarily targets France, the former colonial power in much of Africa, which has faced increasing opposition from some African leaders who criticize its perceived heavy-handed approach on the continent.
France has already withdrawn its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and recently confirmed the withdrawal of its last soldiers from the Faya base in Chad. French military officials stated that the permanent presence in Chad “no longer met the expectations and interests of each party,” framing the move as part of a broader “reconfiguration of its system in Africa” initiated in 2022.
As France aims to significantly reduce its military footprint across the continent—except in Djibouti—this includes the estimated 350 French troops stationed in Senegal. Instead, French officials indicated they may focus on defense training or targeted military support tailored to the needs expressed by African nations.
The new Senegalese government, which has been in power for less than a year, has adopted a firm stance against the presence of French troops, indicative of a wider regional backlash against lingering colonial legacies that many African countries are now confronting.
Credit: ABC News
