The French government confirmed on July 16, 2025, plans to withdraw its military presence from Senegal by December 2025, marking a significant downsizing of its footprint across Africa.
The decision, announced by Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, follows similar exits from Mali and Burkina Faso, driven by anti-French sentiment and growing local military partnerships with Russia. France currently maintains 350 troops in Senegal, primarily training local forces and supporting counter-terrorism in the Sahel, but the pullout aligns with President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to adapt to shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the move as a step toward sovereignty, though analysts warn it could weaken regional security against jihadist threats, with 1,200 attacks recorded in 2024 per UN data. The withdrawal includes dismantling a logistics base in Dakar, with assets transferred to Senegalese control by November.
France’s exit reflects a broader trend, with troop numbers across Africa dropping from 7,500 in 2019 to 3,000 by 2025, amid economic pressures and calls for neocolonial re-evaluation. Local reactions are mixed, with some celebrating independence and others fearing a security vacuum.