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France withdraws troops from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa
France withdraws troops from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa

Saudi Gazette

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Saudi Gazette

France withdraws troops from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa

DAKAR — The French military completed its withdrawal from Senegal on Thursday, the last West African country with a permanent troop presence, amid Paris' waning regional influence. France has faced opposition from leaders of some of its former colonies in Africa over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach to the continent. The French military handed over Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, along with a nearby air facility, to the Senegalese government during a ceremony in the capital Dakar. General Pascal Ianni, head of the French forces in Africa, stated that the handover marked a new phase in military relations. "It is part of France's decision to end permanent military bases in West and Central Africa, and responds to the Senegalese authorities' desire to no longer host permanent foreign forces on their territory," he said. Senegal's military chief, General Mbaye Cissé, said the withdrawal supports the country's new defence strategy."Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion, in Africa, and globally," Cissé ceremony marked the completion of a three-month withdrawal of roughly 350 French troops from the West African country, which began in military had been present in Senegal since it gained independence from France in 1960, under military cooperation agreements between the two withdrawal followed a call by Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye last year for all foreign troops to leave, citing Senegal's sovereignty as incompatible with hosting foreign bases."Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases in a sovereign country", he said last year, adding that Dakar would instead pursue a "renewed partnership" with new government has taken a hard-line stance against the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial has announced plans to sharply reduce its presence at all its bases in Africa, except in the eastern African country of said it would instead provide defence training or targeted military support, based on needs expressed by those has suffered a series of setbacks in West Africa recently, including in Chad and the Ivory Coast, where it handed over its last military bases earlier this follow the ousting of French forces in recent years in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where military-led governments have turned to Russia instead for military 350 French servicemen are still present in Gabon, where the army has turned its base into a camp shared with the central African Coast still hosts some 80 French servicemen who advise and train the country's military, and Djibouti is the last African country where France has a permanent military presence, with around 1,500 troops. — Euronews

France Withdraws from Senegal, Ending Its Permanent Military Presence in West Africa
France Withdraws from Senegal, Ending Its Permanent Military Presence in West Africa

Yomiuri Shimbun

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Yomiuri Shimbun

France Withdraws from Senegal, Ending Its Permanent Military Presence in West Africa

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The French military completed its withdrawal from Senegal on Thursday, the last West African country where it maintained a permanent troop presence, amid waning regional influence in recent years. France has faced opposition from leaders of some of its former colonies in Africa over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach to the continent. The French military handed over Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, along with a nearby air facility, to the Senegalese government during a ceremony in the capital, Dakar. Gen. Pascal Ianni, head of French forces in Africa, said the handover marked a new phase in military ties. 'It is part of France's decision to end permanent military bases in West and Central Africa, and responds to the Senegalese authorities' desire to no longer host permanent foreign forces on their territory,' he said. Senegal's military chief, Gen. Mbaye Cissé, said the withdrawal supports the country's new defense strategy. 'Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion, in Africa, and globally,' Gen. Cissé said. The ceremony marked the completion of a three-month withdrawal of roughly 350 French troops from the West African country, which began in March. France's military had been present in Senegal since it gained independence from France in 1960, under military cooperation agreements between the two countries. The withdrawal followed a call by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye last year for all foreign troops to leave, citing Senegal's sovereignty as incompatible with hosting foreign bases. Senegal's new government has taken a hard-line stance on the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial empire. France has said it is closing all permanent French military bases in Africa except in the eastern African country of Djibouti, where France has around 1,500 troops. Col. Guillaume Vernet, spokesman for the French military's chief of the defence staff, said the withdrawal from Senegal is part of a shift away from France's strategy of permanent presence in West and Central Africa toward a more flexible 'partnership' approach. He said the French military would provide countries with defense training or targeted military support, based on needs expressed by those countries. France has suffered setbacks in Africa recently, including in Chad and the Ivory Coast where it handed over its last military bases earlier this year. They follow the ousting of French forces in recent years in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where military-led governments have turned to Russia instead for military support. While France is ending its permanent military presence in West and Central Africa, some of its army staff will remain in the region. Around 350 French servicemen are still present in Gabon, where the army has turned its base into a camp shared with the central African nation. In the Ivory Coast, some 80 French servicemen advise and train the country's military.

France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa
France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa

Euronews

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Euronews

France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa

The French military completed its withdrawal from Senegal on Thursday, the last West African country with a permanent troop presence, amid Paris' waning regional influence. France has faced opposition from leaders of some of its former colonies in Africa over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach to the continent. The French military handed over Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, along with a nearby air facility, to the Senegalese government during a ceremony in the capital Dakar. General Pascal Ianni, head of the French forces in Africa, stated that the handover marked a new phase in military relations. "It is part of France's decision to end permanent military bases in West and Central Africa, and responds to the Senegalese authorities' desire to no longer host permanent foreign forces on their territory," he said. Senegal's military chief, General Mbaye Cissé, said the withdrawal supports the country's new defence strategy. "Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion, in Africa, and globally," Cissé said. The ceremony marked the completion of a three-month withdrawal of roughly 350 French troops from the West African country, which began in March. France's military had been present in Senegal since it gained independence from France in 1960, under military cooperation agreements between the two countries. The withdrawal followed a call by Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye last year for all foreign troops to leave, citing Senegal's sovereignty as incompatible with hosting foreign bases. "Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases in a sovereign country", he said last year, adding that Dakar would instead pursue a "renewed partnership" with Paris. Senegal's new government has taken a hard-line stance against the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial empire. France has announced plans to sharply reduce its presence at all its bases in Africa, except in the eastern African country of Djibouti. It said it would instead provide defence training or targeted military support, based on needs expressed by those countries. France has suffered a series of setbacks in West Africa recently, including in Chad and the Ivory Coast, where it handed over its last military bases earlier this year. They follow the ousting of French forces in recent years in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where military-led governments have turned to Russia instead for military support. Around 350 French servicemen are still present in Gabon, where the army has turned its base into a camp shared with the central African nation. Ivory Coast still hosts some 80 French servicemen who advise and train the country's military, and Djibouti is the last African country where France has a permanent military presence, with around 1,500 troops.

France Withdraws From Senegal, Ending Its Permanent Military Presence In West Africa
France Withdraws From Senegal, Ending Its Permanent Military Presence In West Africa

Al Arabiya

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Al Arabiya

France Withdraws From Senegal, Ending Its Permanent Military Presence In West Africa

DAKAR (AP) — The French military completed its withdrawal from Senegal on Thursday, its last West African country with a permanent troop presence, amid waning regional influence in recent years. France has faced opposition from leaders of some of its former colonies in Africa over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach to the continent. The French military handed over Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, along with a nearby air facility, to the Senegalese government during a ceremony in the capital, Dakar. Gen. Pascal Ianni, head of French forces in Africa, said the handover marked a new phase in military ties. 'It is part of France's decision to end permanent military bases in West and Central Africa and responds to the Senegalese authorities' desire to no longer host permanent foreign forces on their territory,' he said. Senegal's military chief, Gen. Mbaye Cissé, said the withdrawal supports the country's new defense strategy. 'Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion in Africa and globally,' Gen. Cissé said. The ceremony marked the completion of a three-month withdrawal of roughly 350 French troops from the West African country, which began in March. France's military had been present in Senegal since it gained independence from France in 1960 under military cooperation agreements between the two countries. The withdrawal followed a call by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye last year for all foreign troops to leave, citing Senegal's sovereignty as incompatible with hosting foreign bases. Senegal's new government has taken a hard-line stance on the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial empire. France has said it is planning to sharply reduce its presence at all its bases in Africa except in the eastern African country of Djibouti. It said it would instead provide defense training or targeted military support based on needs expressed by those countries. France has suffered setbacks in Africa recently, including in Chad and the Ivory Coast, where it handed over its last military bases earlier this year. They follow the ousting of French forces in recent years in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where military-led governments have turned to Russia instead for military support. Around 350 French servicemen are still present in Gabon, where the army has turned its base into a camp shared with the central African nation; in the Ivory Coast, where some 80 French servicemen advise and train the Ivorian military; and in Djibouti, the last African country where France has a permanent military presence with around 1,500 troops.

France withdraws from Senegal ending military presence in West Africa
France withdraws from Senegal ending military presence in West Africa

Euronews

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Euronews

France withdraws from Senegal ending military presence in West Africa

The French military completed its withdrawal from Senegal on Thursday, the last West African country with a permanent troop presence, amid Paris' waning regional influence. France has faced opposition from leaders of some of its former colonies in Africa over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach to the continent. The French military handed over Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, along with a nearby air facility, to the Senegalese government during a ceremony in the capital, Dakar. General Pascal Ianni, head of the French forces in Africa, said the handover marked a new phase in military ties. "It is part of France's decision to end permanent military bases in West and Central Africa, and responds to the Senegalese authorities' desire to no longer host permanent foreign forces on their territory," he said. Senegal's military chief, General Mbaye Cissé, said the withdrawal supports the country's new defence strategy. "Its primary goal is to affirm the autonomy of the Senegalese armed forces while contributing to peace in the subregion, in Africa, and globally," Cissé said. The ceremony marked the completion of a three-month withdrawal of roughly 350 French troops from the West African country, which began in March. France's military had been present in Senegal since it gained independence from France in 1960, under military cooperation agreements between the two countries. The withdrawal followed a call by Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye last year for all foreign troops to leave, citing Senegal's sovereignty as incompatible with hosting foreign bases. "Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases in a sovereign country", he said last year, adding that Dakar would instead pursue a "renewed partnership" with Paris. Senegal's new government has taken a hard-line stance against the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial empire. France has said it is planning to sharply reduce its presence at all its bases in Africa except in the eastern African country of Djibouti. It said it would instead provide defence training or targeted military support, based on needs expressed by those countries. France has suffered a series of setbacks in West Africa recently, including in Chad and the Ivory Coast where it handed over its last military bases earlier this year. They follow the ousting of French forces in recent years in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where military-led governments have turned to Russia instead for military support. Around 350 French servicemen are still present in Gabon, where the army has turned its base into a camp shared with the central African nation. Ivory Coast still hosts some 80 French servicemen who advise and train the country's military and Djibouti is the last African country where France has a permanent military presence, with around 1,500 troops.

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