France transfers third military base to Senegal as full withdrawal advances

France has formally handed over control of the Contre-Amiral Protet military base in Dakar to Senegal, marking the third such transfer this year as part of a broader withdrawal of French forces from the country.

The transfer, confirmed in a statement issued on May 15 by the French embassy in Dakar, reflects a phased disengagement process agreed upon by both nations, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Communiqué de presse relatif à la restitution du quartier Contre-Amiral Protet ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QE1dfTKNrh

— France au Sénégal 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceoSenegal) May 15, 2025

Earlier in March, France returned control of the Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry military sites to Senegalese authorities. With the latest handover, all three of France’s military sites in Dakar have now been ceded, representing a significant step in a scheduled drawdown set to culminate in the summer of 2025.

The French withdrawal is being coordinated by a bilateral commission established in February, following a joint declaration by the foreign ministers of France and Senegal. The commission held its inaugural session on February 28, where it approved the first round of site transfers.

According to the embassy, the handovers are proceeding in line with a mutually agreed timeline. The process aims not only to complete the French military exit by the end of 2025 but also to lay the foundation for a new strategic relationship built on shared priorities and mutual respect.

Senegal's decision to reclaim control of French military installations aligns with a broader regional movement to curtail long-standing French military deployments in West Africa. In his New Year’s address in 2024, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced that French troops would begin leaving Senegal in 2025.

Since 2022, France has pulled its forces out of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and initiated a drawdown in Chad. In a parallel development, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara this year also called for the departure of French troops from Côte d’Ivoire, further reflecting a shift toward regional self-determination in defence matters.

France’s military presence in Senegal stems from post-independence defence agreements dating back to the 1960s. Over time, however, growing nationalist sentiment, rising anti-French rhetoric, and an increasing push for full sovereignty over defence affairs have reshaped attitudes toward foreign military bases.

With the return of the Contre-Amiral Protet base, France’s footprint in Senegal has been significantly reduced. Once the withdrawal is completed in 2025, it will bring to a close more than six decades of French military presence in the country. Both governments have stated that the transition represents not a rupture but a realignment — from a historical partnership to a future framework based on equal collaboration.

By Tamilla Hasanova