Senegal announces end to foreign military presence by 2025
Senegal's President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has announced that all foreign military forces will leave the country by 2025.
Speaking during his New Year’s speech, the president said the move forms part of Senegal's efforts to gain greater control over its own security and international relations.
“I have instructed the minister of the armed forces to propose a new doctrine of cooperation in defence and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all military presence of foreign countries in Senegal from 2025,” Faye said.
The president emphasised that Senegal will work with international partners in a different way.
According to him, Senegal’s friends will be treated like strategic partners within the framework of an open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation.
In November 2024, Faye said his government’s push for sovereignty was not compatible with foreign military bases.
“The sovereignty advocated by my government does not accommodate the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” he said.
