France on Thursday handed over its last two military facilities in Senegal to local authorities, marking the end of its permanent military presence in the West African country.
Camp Geille, the largest French military installation in Senegal located in the capital Dakar, and the French air detachment at Dakar’s international airport were officially transferred to the Senegalese state at a ceremony attended by Mbaye Cisse, chief of General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, and Pascal Ianni, commander of French forces in Africa.
French troops have been present in Senegal since the country gained independence in 1960.
On Dec. 31, 2024, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye urged French forces to leave the country, while delivering his New Year’s address.
In recent years, several African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Cote d’Ivoire, have called for the withdrawal of French troops and the handover of their military bases. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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