France has officially handed over its military base in Rufisque, a western city in Senegal, marking another step in its phased withdrawal of forces from the West African nation. The French Embassy in Senegal confirmed the transfer on Tuesday, July 1st, noting that it follows earlier returns of the Marechal and Saint-Exupery military sites in March 2025, and the Contre-Amiral Protet naval base in Dakar in May.
The remaining French military facilities are scheduled to be returned by the end of July 2025, as outlined in a bilateral agreement. The handover was conducted in line with a decision by a Franco-Senegalese commission meeting held on May 16, and based on provisions of a 2012 military cooperation treaty between Paris and Dakar. The commission, which was formed following a joint communiqué on 12 February, has been overseeing the timetable and logistical coordination of the final troop withdrawals and base transfers.
France’s broader military disengagement from Africa reflects a significant strategic shift, as it has exited Chad, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast in recent years. With Djibouti expected to remain its only permanent base on the continent, French authorities have indicated a new posture focused on providing targeted defence training and operational support only upon request from partner countries.