Thu Jul 17 11:30:04 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article written from an Indian perspective, as if published in “The Hindu”:

**Summary:**

France has formally withdrawn from its last two military bases in Senegal, ending a 65-year military presence. This follows similar withdrawals across West and Central Africa as former colonies seek greater independence and question the value of French military support. The move, demanded by Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, reflects a growing trend of African nations distancing themselves from their former colonizer, even as some, like Senegal, seek to maintain a working relationship. While Senegal is not fully cutting ties with France, other nations in the Sahel region, facing jihadist conflicts, have ousted France and turned to Russia for military assistance. The withdrawal leaves Djibouti as the only African nation hosting a permanent French military base, which will now serve as France’s headquarters for Africa.

**News Article (As it might appear in The Hindu):**

**France Completes Military Withdrawal from Senegal, Signaling Shifting Power Dynamics in Africa**

**Dakar, Senegal – July 17, 2025:** France today formally relinquished control of its final military bases in Senegal, marking the end of a 65-year military presence in the West African nation. The withdrawal, encompassing Camp Geille (France’s largest base in Senegal) and the airfield at Dakar airport, symbolizes a broader re-evaluation of the relationship between France and its former colonies across the African continent.

The move follows similar withdrawals from other West and Central African nations and comes at the behest of Senegal’s newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who campaigned on a platform of greater self-sufficiency and a more balanced relationship with France.

“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” President Faye stated last year, while also affirming that “France remains an important partner for Senegal”.

While Senegal aims to redefine its relationship with France on more equitable terms, other nations in the Sahel region, grappling with escalating jihadist insurgencies, have taken a more decisive turn away from Paris. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have all severed ties with France and sought security assistance from Russia. This divergence highlights the complex and evolving security landscape of the region.

The French withdrawal leaves Djibouti as the sole African nation hosting a permanent French military base, which Paris now intends to utilize as its military headquarters for the continent.

From an Indian perspective, this shift in power dynamics reflects a growing desire among African nations to chart their own course, free from the lingering influence of former colonial powers. As India deepens its economic and strategic partnerships across Africa, the focus remains on fostering mutual respect and sustainable development, without the imposition of military presence. The future of Africa appears to be one where partnerships are based on cooperation and not coercion, a welcome change from the legacy of the past.

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