Senegal, like Chad, reacted strongly to the declarations of French President Emmanuel Macron concerning the withdrawal of French forces from the African continent. Contrary to what the latter asserts on the outcome of negotiations with the countries concerned, Senegal announced, at the end of December, the closure of French military bases on its territory in 2025. The newspaper Sud Quotidien reports these developments and draws up the next steps in this transition.
Currently, around 200 French soldiers are still present in Dakar, spread over four sites, according to information communicated by the French government, which remains attentive to Senegalese requests. However, no precise timetable has been established. The newspaper Sud Quotidien relayed that, according to French military sources, two of these installations, located near the port of Dakar, are already unoccupied and ready to be transferred to Senegal. At the end of last year, Dakar reportedly requested additional time before taking possession.
The two other bases still in operation are those of Rufisque, on the outskirts of Dakar, and Ouakam, in an urban environment. These sites host training courses organized jointly with the Senegalese army and officers from the region. According to French military sources, an offer has been made to convert part of the housing at the Ouakam base into a Franco-Senegalese facility by summer 2024, a proposal subject to political discussions with the new Senegalese authorities.
No political decision having yet been taken, the progress of these operations remains suspended from future negotiations between Paris and Dakar on these strategic bilateral issues.
Senegal
