• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Senegal - France Relations

After more than three centuries of dense relations, France and Senegal have remained close since independence. A shared history, a tradition of cooperation in all fields, a constant flow of human and material exchanges in both directions, have reinforced this proximity. France is also a major partner of Senegal through its official development assistance, its economic and cultural presence.

French forces in the Dakar area could assist the Senegalese government at its request or could be sent elsewhere in Africa to protect French interests or the interests of friendly countries in other African areas. From this strategically located westernmost point in Africa, the French commander looked both seaward and landward, and the relatively limited military forces under his control had considerable importanace as symbols of French influence in both African and offshore areas. Moreover, these forces could be augmented quickly by air without overflying other nations or by oceangoing vessels.

The legal basis for France's continuing use of the naval base and headquarters areas at Dakar is one of several cooperation agreements included in the original Accord on Cooperation in Matters of Defense between the Mali Federation and France. In addition to its provisions for the transfer of African troops from the French forces to the forces of the Senegalese government, the accord and its three detailed annexes set forth the basic policies for French assistance in military training and the conditions for direct aid from France in matters of defense if requested by the government of the federation.

Published accords with Senegal, after the breakup of the short-lived Mali Federation, covered details of aid and cooperation. For example, two agreements formalized in 1966 dealt with French use of Senegalese airfields and French logistic support for Senegalese military and gendarmerie forces. Other military accords were worked out, but details were not made public. Arrangements were probably included whereby France could assist, upon request of the Senegalese government, in case of serious civil disorders.

As of 1973 the Senghor government had not had occasion to request active support from French combat units. French forces did, however, protect major military facilities at Dakar during a series of riots in mid-1968. France continued in 1973 to provide military assistance to Senegal, but the amount of materiel provided since 1970 was very limited.

During the years since many of the French-speaking African nations became independent, successive French governments had continued to maintain a capability to intervene with French forces in support of these states and to show the French flag.

Nearly 1,000 naval men were usually in the area. About half of these men were shore based, and half were serving on French naval vessels that were either based at the Dakar port or on operational visits. Small French ground and air units also were assigned to the South Atlantic Naval Zone. In 1973 the ground troops reportedly included at least 1,200 men, most of them trained for airborne operations or associated combat support activities. An air transport section of several hundred men operating from facilities at Dakar-Ouakam airfield, three miles from the port, provided air support for the other French forces, including the specialized support needs of the airborne troops.

The Exercise DEGGO 29 brought together Forces Armées du Sénégal (FAS) et les Forces Françaises du Cap-Vert (FFCV) [the Armed Forces of Senegal (FAS) and the French Forces of Cape Verde (FFCV)]. In Wolof, one of the Languages ??spoken in Senegal, "deggo" means friendship. Friendship was strongly questioned during this maneuver that the two nations organize annually, each of which has responsibility in turn. Thus, from 4 to 11 December 2009, 1,300 soldiers of both armies deployed in civilian areas between Mbour and Kaloak (150 km South of Dakar). The scenario envisaged a forceful action against insurgent elements likely to jeopardize the Stability of a fictitious region. The objectives were set jointly by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Senegalese and by the general commander of the FFCV in order to test and optimize the capability of the French units and Senegalese to engage together on a crisis situation. This joint annual joint exercise illustrates and affirms the Desire to maintain a secular friendship between the two armies, a "brotherhood of arms", an expression often heard.

"The French military bases will leave Dakar under an agreement that will be signed before April 4," said a spokesman of the presidency of Senegal 19 February 2010. However, a French military presence will be maintained in the country, in a form that remained to be specified. Approximately 1,200 French soldiers were pre-positioned in Senegal. The 2008 Defense White Paper provided for the maintenance of a single French base on the Atlantic coast of Africa. Today's announcement therefore means that the Libreville base in Gabon will be conserved. The French army, however, will remain present in Senegal in the form of a "military cooperation pole with a regional vocation".

Since 2014 and until November 2016, Senegal has been holding the presidency of the International Organization of Francophonie (French-Speaking World).Under the Presidency of Macky Sall, the first Francophonie Economic Forum was held at the Dakar Summit, in November 2014.

The Francophonie Economic Forum purpose is to promote trade and investment within the French-speaking world by building on relationships related to common language and legal traditions, and to accelerate the realization of an economic Francophonie, whose potential is still far from being exploited today. Political and economic policy-makers from the five continents and 80 Francophonie member States and governments meet on a regular basis to address concrete themes: entrepreneurship, issues and opportunities in megacities and economic sectors with strong potential, public-private partnerships, specific issues related to young people and women, education, new technologies, environment, media’s role, culture and science.

Senegal is one of France’s main partners in Africa. Senegal ranked 57 among French clients in the world in 2015, and third in West Africa after Nigeria (€1.5 billion) and Côte d’Ivoire (€1 billion). France is Senegal’s leading supplier. Trade between the two countries (€853 million in 2015) benefits France, which posted a trade surplus of €681 million in 2015 (+€34 million versus 2014). Growth in French exports in 2015 was driven by household equipment, industrial and agricultural machinery and transport materials, despite the drop in oil product deliveries (- 15%, or a decrease of €45 million). French sales to Senegal remain strongly focused on a number of products: cereals (14%) and agri-food products (11%), machines and equipment (25%), pharmaceutical products (11%) and fuel (6%). French imports from Senegal are limited (ranging from €70 million to €100 million for more than ten years) mainly composed of agricultural and fishing products. France remains the leading investor with €1.7 billion in FDI stock. French companies account for nearly 25% of the GDP and tax revenues in Senegal, employ some 15,000 people and concern all sectors of activity.