Dakar: As France officially transfers its last remaining military bases in Senegal, the move marks the end of the former colonizer's decades-long military presence in West and Central Africa. This significant handover concludes France's gradual withdrawal from Senegal, following the return of other military sites earlier this year. With this transfer, France's military footprint in Africa is now limited to Djibouti and Gabon, with only Djibouti expected to continue hosting a permanent French military base.
According to Anadolu Agency, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged this strategic shift during a visit to Djibouti in December 2024, stating that France's role in Africa was evolving in response to changing public opinion and governmental shifts. A growing wave of anti-French sentiment, rooted in colonial legacies and accusations of neo-colonial influence, has led to military and diplomatic disengagement across Africa, particularly following several coups in the Sahel.
The withdrawal began in earnest in Mali between 2021 and 2022, where joint military operations were suspended after a coup brought Col. Assimi Goita to power. This marked the end of Operation Barkhane, a major counterterrorism deployment launched in 2014. By August 2022, all French troops had left Mali, with President Macron noting that future military support for African countries would adhere to newly defined principles.
In 2023, France's departure from Burkina Faso followed another coup led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore. French troops became targets of domestic criticism for perceived ineffectiveness in combating insurgencies. After Burkina Faso terminated its military agreement with France, roughly 400 special forces withdrew, marking the formal end of operations in February 2023.
Niger, once a key military hub in the Sahel for France, saw its military government annul cooperation agreements with Paris after a coup in July 2023. France pulled out its troops by December 2023, as Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, formed the Alliance of Sahel States and officially left ECOWAS by January 2025.
Chad, hosting around 1,000 French soldiers, ended its defense cooperation with France in November 2024, focusing on redefining strategic partnerships according to national priorities. France completed its withdrawal from Chad by January 2025.
In Ivory Coast, President Alassane Ouattara announced the organized withdrawal of French forces by the end of 2024, with the formal vacating of the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion base in February 2025. Military cooperation, however, is set to continue.
Senegal, the last West African nation to see the departure of French troops, witnessed the final handover of military bases in March 2025. The transfer of key facilities marked the end of more than 60 years of French military presence, symbolizing Africa's ongoing efforts to reclaim security autonomy in a post-colonial era.