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France has completed the handover of a military base in Rufisque, near Dakar, to Senegalese authorities, marking a significant step in the broader withdrawal of French troops from the West African nation. This move follows President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s announcement last year that all French military bases must close by 2025, with Senegalese staff working for French troops dismissed as of July 1[1][4]. The return of the base, which had served as a French communications center since 1960, symbolizes a continued departure from Senegal’s post-independence reliance on France and underlines Faye’s commitment to treating France as an equal partner rather than a privileged ally[1][4].

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who assumed office in April 2024, ran on a platform of national sovereignty, anti-corruption, and economic reform. His administration’s “Senegal Agenda 2050,” launched in October 2024, aims to address high living costs and reduce the country’s dependence on former colonial powers, resonating strongly with grassroots movements advocating for sovereignty and the end of what they see as neocolonial structures[5].

On the international front, Senegal is reinforcing its partnerships beyond France. On June 27, 2025, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, affirming the countries’ commitment to mutual development, infrastructure investments, and closer China-Africa cooperation. China has expressed willingness to support Senegal’s development goals, particularly in new energy and digital infrastructure[6].

Domestically, Senegal continues its democratic trajectory following Faye’s decisive victory in the March 2024 presidential election. The election was lauded as free and fair by international observers and marked by widespread public engagement, following years of political tension and protests over governance issues. Upon taking office, Faye appointed Ousmane Sonko as prime minister, both having been released from prison shortly before the vote as part of a general amnesty for political prisoners. Faye’s administration has prioritized political reconciliation, economic reforms, and equitable distribution of resource revenues[2][7].

In public health, Senegal marked an important milestone on July 1, 2025, with the official introduction of the hexavalent vaccine into its national immunization program. The new vaccine, which protects children against six major diseases, is a significant innovation and builds on regional efforts to improve child health outcomes[8].

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