Introduction

As of November 2024, French troops are still present in three African nations:

Chad:

Currently, Chad hosts approximately 1,000 French soldiers and several military aircraft. However, Chad has recently announced the termination of its defense cooperation agreement with France, which will lead to the withdrawal of these troops. The exact timeline for their departure has not been specified.

Senegal:

There are around 350 French soldiers stationed in Senegal. However, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has recently expressed his desire to end the presence of French troops in the country, stating that “There will soon be no more French soldiers in Senegal”.

Djibouti

France has a longstanding military base in Djibouti, East Africa, which has not been part of recent withdrawal discussions.

It’s important to note that this situation represents a significant shift in France’s military presence in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. Over the past two years,

France has been compelled to withdraw its troops from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso following military coups and growing anti-French sentiment.

Chad was considered France’s last foothold in the Sahel, and with its recent decision to end military cooperation, France’s military presence in Africa is rapidly diminishing.

Conclusion

This trend reflects a broader regional movement towards asserting national sovereignty and diversifying security partnerships, with some nations gravitating towards closer ties with countries like Russia.