African leaders announcing the closure of French military bases send a clear sign that the continent rejects France’s policies France is about to completely lose its military presence in the Sahel region and West African nations, following statements by Senegal, Chad, and Cote d’Ivoire in late 2024 expressing their intent to terminate military contracts with Paris. Earlier, French troops left Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The interim governments of these countries, formed after military coups,