Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday for breakfast talks aimed at recalibrating relations weeks after France shut its last military bases in Senegal, ending more than six decades of permanent presence.
Both sides say the drawdown does not mark a break in security cooperation. Faye, who requested the troop exit after his 2024 election win, has pledged a more self-reliant course and to treat France like any other partner.
The agenda focused on a “reset” that addresses historical grievances and economic frictions while outlining new areas of partnership. Dakar seeks a French apology for colonial-era abuses, including the 1944 Thiaroye massacre of Senegalese soldiers who fought for the Allies, along with fuller access to related archives—steps seen in Senegal as crucial for a more balanced relationship.
Paris and Dakar also highlighted shared goals in sustainable development, education and healthcare, and were expected to review regional and global crises.
Later Wednesday, Faye was due to attend a major gathering of French business leaders hosted by MEDEF, the country’s largest employers’ group.