Relationship dossier
France
Senegal
Relationship assessment
Longstanding cooperation is being reshaped by Senegal’s drive for greater sovereignty and an end to the French military presence.
France toward Senegal
+25France has maintained development and defense cooperation with Senegal, including a military presence under bilateral arrangements. France has also participated in the transition away from that presence following Senegal’s call for foreign forces to leave.
Senegal toward France
+15Senegal has engaged France through longstanding development and defense ties, including arrangements that hosted French forces. The Senegalese government has also called for the end of the French military presence, reflecting a shift toward greater sovereignty in security policy.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship rests on durable development, economic and security links, but Senegal’s effort to end the French military presence marks a substantial change in the security relationship. Cooperation remains significant, though increasingly shaped by Senegal’s emphasis on sovereignty and a more independent foreign policy.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
France and Senegal have a longstanding relationship involving development cooperation, investment and defense ties. Senegal’s recent push to end the French military presence has prompted a significant adjustment in security relations, while leaving broader bilateral cooperation in place. The relationship combines substantial institutional links with increased emphasis by Senegal on sovereignty and a more independent foreign policy.
Areas of tension
- Senegal’s call for an end to the French military presence and the future of bilateral security cooperation.
- Senegal’s broader emphasis on sovereignty in its relationship with France.
Key developments
Senegal’s government called for the departure of foreign forces, including French troops, as part of a shift toward greater sovereignty in security policy.
France and Senegal began adjusting their defense relationship in response to Senegal’s demand to end the French military presence.
Major uncertainties
- The future scope of French-Senegalese defense cooperation is unclear.
- The extent to which Senegal’s policy shift will affect development and economic cooperation remains uncertain.