French army begins withdrawal from Senegal

The French army has started procedures to leave Senegal, handing over two military facilities to the West African country.

“The French side handed over to the Senegalese side the facilities and housing in the Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry districts on Friday, March 7, 2025,” the French Embassy in Senegal said in a statement.

“Located near Hann Park, these districts were ready to be returned since the summer of 2024,” it said.

France set up a joint commission with Senegal last month to organize the withdrawal, and the French army recently announced it had dismissed 162 Senegalese who worked on military bases in Dakar.

Last year, Senegal’s president Bassirou Faye had asked French troops to leave the country to reduce reliance on foreign armies and reinforce sovereignty.