France suffered another blow to its declining influence in Africa as Senegal announced the formation of a commission to ensure the full withdrawal of French troops by the end of 2025. This marks yet another rejection of France’s military presence on the continent, as Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye pushes to reclaim full sovereignty. The move follows similar expulsions of French forces from Chad, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, signaling a growing resistance to French interference in Africa.
Senegal, which has hosted French troops since its independence in 1960, currently has 350 French soldiers stationed for so-called “training and security operations.” However, Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko have made it clear that the era of French military influence is coming to an end. Faye first hinted at this decision in an interview with Le Monde, and Sonko openly questioned the necessity of French troops in a sovereign nation. The decision aligns with a broader wave of African nations rejecting France’s military and political meddling.
France’s diminishing control in Africa has been evident in recent years. After being forced out of Chad last month, President Mahamat Idriss Deby declared it a “new sunrise for a fully sovereign Chad,” making it clear that his country would no longer tolerate foreign military interference. While France desperately clings to military agreements in Djibouti and Gabon, its waning influence in Africa proves that the continent is no longer willing to be a pawn in France’s geopolitical ambitions.
