France’s Exit from Senegal Signals Decline of Foreign Military Footprints in West Africa

The recent withdrawal of French troops from Senegal marks a pivotal moment in the shifting landscape of West African geopolitics. For more than six decades since Senegal's independence, France maintained a permanent military presence—ostensibly as an ally and security partner. Yet this longstanding footprint has now come to an end amid mounting resistance from local leaders asserting their sovereignty and rejecting what they view as an outdated colonial legacy. On the surface, the handover of Camp Geille and its adjacent air facility to the Senegalese government represents diplomatic cooperation. However, the broader implications reveal a weakening grip by a former...