Faith Nyasuguta
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s visit to France this week has marked one of the most consequential meetings in recent Franco-African relations. Welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron, the breakfast encounter was far more than a ceremonial gesture. It came at a moment of historic transition, just weeks after France formally ended its military presence in Senegal, a move that closed a 65-year chapter of permanent foreign bases in the West African nation.
For Faye, elected in 2024 on a platform of sovereignty and reform, the departure of French troops was a central promise. He had argued that Senegal must move beyond reliance on its former colonial ruler and treat France like any other foreign partner. The handover of Camp Geille and the adjoining air base to Senegalese authorities in July was therefore celebrated in Dakar as a victory for national independence.
Yet, even as French soldiers departed, both governments stressed that cooperation would not vanish. Instead, the withdrawal was framed as a shift from dominance to balance, opening the door to new forms of partnership in security, education, and economic development.
Wednesday’s talks reflected this delicate reset. At the heart of the meeting was the question of historical justice. Faye reiterated Senegal’s long-standing demand for France to officially acknowledge and apologise for colonial-era atrocities, particularly the 1944 massacre of Senegalese soldiers who had fought for France during World War II. For decades, families and historians have sought full access to French archives and recognition of the killings’ scale.
Faye made clear that progress on this sensitive issue would serve as a litmus test of sincerity in the new relationship. Macron, for his part, has previously shown willingness to address colonial memory, though his words have often stopped short of formal apology. The pressure is now on Paris to match rhetoric with action.
Beyond history, the meeting also focused on forward-looking cooperation. Both leaders highlighted the importance of joint work in sustainable development, education, and healthcare. With Senegal’s youthful population demanding better opportunities, Faye is keen to attract investment that creates jobs while avoiding exploitative patterns of the past.
Later in the day, his participation at a high-level economic forum hosted by MEDEF, France’s largest employers’ federation, signaled Dakar’s openness to new commercial partnerships – albeit on more equal footing.
Security remains another cornerstone of the evolving relationship. While French troops may no longer be permanently stationed in Senegal, Paris will continue to provide training, intelligence sharing, and logistical support when requested. This arrangement reflects France’s broader recalibration in Africa, where it has drawn down its military footprint in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and now Senegal, while maintaining limited presences in Djibouti and Gabon.
The symbolism of Faye’s Paris visit cannot be overstated. It demonstrated that Senegal seeks neither rupture nor dependence, but rather a partnership defined by mutual respect. For Macron, who has faced mounting criticism over France’s waning influence in Africa, the meeting offered a chance to show that ties can endure beyond military bases.
As both leaders departed the Elysee palace, they left behind an image of two nations attempting to turn a page: one eager to assert its sovereignty, the other striving to redefine its role in a region where history weighs heavily on the present.
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