Senegal: Why Diomaye Faye met with the head of France’s DGSE intelligence agency
In just one year, Senegal has profoundly reshaped its military relationship with France. Dakar demanded the gradual closure of French bases, which was implemented in the summer of 2025 with the handover of Camp Geille and other strategic sites. This decision, viewed as an act of sovereignty, mirrors the French withdrawals already carried out in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The departure of the roughly 350 remaining soldiers marks the end of an era when French presence seemed a given.
In this new context, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met in late August in Paris with Nicolas Lerner, Director of the DGSE, according to Africa Intelligence. This meeting followed a confidential visit by Mr. Lerner to Dakar in July. Though kept outside official communication channels, these discussions nonetheless reflect both parties’ willingness to maintain dialogue, particularly on regional security challenges and the situation along the Malian border.
These exchanges do not signal the return of French troops but rather a different type of cooperation: a partnership centered on intelligence sharing and technical support, enabling Senegal to strengthen its own capabilities. For Paris, the goal is to maintain a strategic link with a historic partner, despite the end of direct military presence.
The meeting between Diomaye Faye and the DGSE chief thus highlights a delicate balance: asserting Senegal’s strategic independence while keeping communication channels open with France. It is a pragmatic approach—one that will likely raise questions within Pastef’s grassroots base, which often advocates for a more decisive break.
