Faith Nyasuguta
Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French troops, marking the end of a decades-long military presence and aligning with a broader West African trend of reducing ties with the former colonizer.
In a televised address on Tuesday, President Alassane Ouattara confirmed the departure of the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion stationed at Port-Bouet in Abidjan. Control of the base will be handed over to Ivory Coast’s armed forces in January 2025.
“We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is now effective,” said Ouattara. “It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organized withdrawal of French forces.”
France, which ended its colonial rule in West Africa in the 1960s, currently has about 1,000 soldiers in Ivory Coast. This move makes Ivory Coast the latest in a series of West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Chad, to expel French troops in recent months.
In November, Senegal and Chad announced their decisions to remove French soldiers. By December 26, France had returned from its first military base to Chad, signaling a significant shift in its African strategy.
Ivory Coast remains a key ally of France. However, the decision to scale back military ties reflects France’s broader reassessment of its role on the continent. Paris is now implementing a new strategy aimed at reducing its permanent troop presence while focusing on defense training and targeted support.
Over 70 percent of African nations that once hosted French troops have now expelled them. Currently, French forces remain stationed in only two countries: Djibouti, with 1,500 personnel, and Gabon, with 350.
Analysts view these changes as part of a structural transformation in African relations with France, spurred by growing anti-French sentiments. This is especially evident in nations led by military governments, such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which have turned to Russia for strategic alliances.
Senegal recently joined this trend when Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced plans to close all foreign military bases, including those hosting French troops. While Sonko did not provide a specific timeline, his announcement echoed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s earlier declaration that French forces would soon leave Senegalese soil.
French officials have acknowledged the shift in African attitudes, admitting that their longstanding military presence no longer aligns with the expectations of many countries. The handover of the base in Chad marks a broader restructuring of French influence in Africa, where the focus is shifting from large bases to partnerships and support roles.
This wave of troop withdrawals highlights a significant geopolitical shift as African nations reassess their relationships with France, signaling a new era of sovereignty and regional cooperation.
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