Senegal will remove all foreign military forces from its territory starting in 2025, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced in a national address. The move marks a significant shift in the country’s defense strategy, emphasizing sovereignty and a redefinition of security cooperation.
“I have instructed the Minister of Armed Forces to propose a new doctrine of defense and security cooperation, which will entail the cessation of any foreign military presence in Senegal starting in 2025,” Faye stated, according to the APS national news agency.
While Faye had previously declared the end of the French military presence, this is the first time a clear timeline has been outlined. The decision follows broader trends in West Africa, where nations such as Chad and Côte d’Ivoire have moved to reduce their reliance on French forces and other foreign military personnel.
French media reports from January 2024 indicated plans to scale back France’s military contingents in Senegal, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire, reducing personnel in each country to around 100 and focusing on support roles.
