Recently, Senegal declared a major change in its defense policy. The country is going to close all its military bases. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said that shortly after, President Macky Sall announced the closing of these bases. At the same time, there are no exact timelines discussed in the policy address for the withdrawal of foreign troops, including those from France. This move highlights Senegal’s efforts to fully control its security alone without relying on various alliances. France has many military bases in Senegal and other African nations could be particularly affected by this decision.
This move may be a way of signaling to African nations that they do not want France to intervene in its security affairs. It may also lead to changes in the security politics of the region. This is because the foreign military has played a significant role in the counterterrorism process. However, without giving a clear timeline, the security of the nation remains unknown. In this statement on France’s military bases, France’s military and foreign ministry have nothing to say. This lack of action showed the increasing tension in the region. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye openly said that he wanted the bases to be removed last month.
According to him, international interference in Segenal’s military threatened its independence. This stance is important as it highlights the clear shift in Senegal’s stance on foreign influence. Faye said that the region’s government wants to control its security itself rather than rely on external powers.
But France didn’t give an immediate reaction which would have stated its refusal to get involved in the matter. This step could damage the diplomatic relations of these two countries.
This is a struggle between collaborations on the international level and sovereignty on the national level that is portrayed in this scenario.
France, which has been facing stiff opposition from several African leaders, seems to be the most affected in this respect of closing down military camps.
In their handling of Africa, these leaders accuse France of retaining a colonial mentality and using oppressive tactics. Sizable portions of Africa were once under French colonization, and the country’s presence there has often raised concerns. France has already withdrawn its troops from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso in the last few months, and on Thursday announced that its last forces would withdraw from the Faya station in Chad.
This step bears a resemblance to a more general shift in France’s military posture in Africa. Neither the demands nor the interests of either side were being met by the French military’s continued presence in Chad. This is part of a wider, since 2022, reshaping of France’s force structure in Africa. French authorities have declared their intention to drastically cut back on their military presence on the majority of African bases, excluding Djibouti.
Approximately 350 French soldiers who are based in Senegal will be impacted by this decision. Rather than keeping a sizable military presence, France intends to provide defense training and custom defense funding based on the needs of the countries that are participating. This change coincides with the new Senegalese administration, which has been in office for less than a year and has taken a strong stand against the stretched presence of the French military.
This stands in a larger regional movement where several African countries are resisting the effects of colonialism. These countries view the presence of France’s military as a reminder of their harsh colonial past and fuel an expanding campaign to restructure France’s place on the continent.