The French amphibious helicopter carrier Mistral is in Dakar from October 2 to 6, 2026. Its presence is no courtesy call: over five days, French and Senegalese military personnel will conduct joint operational activities on land and at sea, as well as expertise exchanges. This port call comes just over a year after the departure of French forces stationed in Senegal.

A five-day stopover focused on cooperation

The Mistral is one of the main vessels of the French Navy. This amphibious ship can carry helicopters, troops, and vehicles, and is designed for operations combining land, air, and sea capabilities. Its stopover at the port of Dakar falls within the framework of cooperation activities between the armed forces of both countries.

During its stay, French and Senegalese military personnel will take part in several operational activities and expertise exchange sessions. A large part of the program focuses on land tactical operations.

The exercises will not be limited to the capital. Units from both armies are to conduct joint movements between Dakar and the Mont-Rolland training center, in the Thiès region. This site, used for troop training and instruction, will host part of the land activities planned during the stopover.

A naval exercise off the Senegalese coast

The maritime component also plays a significant role. A naval exercise is planned to maintain the two navies’ joint coordination and intervention capabilities at sea. This type of maneuver tests the crews’ ability to act together in an area where coastal surveillance, combating trafficking, and navigation safety remain major challenges.

The stopover also includes an academic component. The program features meetings and cohesion activities with the Armed Forces Health Service, the Higher War School, and the Staff School. Reciprocal visits to operational centers are also planned, allowing officers from both countries to discover their counterparts’ working methods.

As a reminder, since the handover of the last French military bases to the State of Senegal in July 2025, France no longer has a permanent base in the country. Military cooperation between the two countries continues, however, in the form of occasional activities like this one: joint exercises, training, and expertise exchanges, conducted within a relationship that Senegalese authorities now want to be more balanced.