Ivory Coast recently announced that French troops will leave the country this month after a decades-long military presence, marking the latest African nation to downscale military ties with its former colonizer. President Alassane Ouattara stated in an end-of-year address that the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion at Port-Bouet in Abidjan, where French troops were stationed, will be handed over to Ivory Coast’s armed forces starting January 2025. With the modernization of the Ivorian army effective, the decision was made for the concerted and organized withdrawal of French forces from the country. France, which ended its colonial rule in West Africa in the 1960s, currently has nearly 1,000 soldiers in Ivory Coast.
Following Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Ivory Coast joins the list of West African nations that have expelled French troops, showcasing a widespread trend in the region. In November, both Senegal and Chad also announced the departure of French soldiers from their soil. On December 26, France returned its first military base to Chad, making it the last Sahel nation to host French troops. Despite the downsizing of military ties, Ivory Coast remains an important ally of France. This move by France is part of a larger strategy to revive its political and military influence on the African continent by reducing its permanent troop presence significantly.
France’s expulsion from over 70 percent of African countries where it previously had a troop presence signals a shift in the African continent’s engagement with Paris. Currently, the only two countries where French soldiers remain are Djibouti, with 1,500 troops, and Gabon, with 350 personnel. This trend is further emphasized by the fact that military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, after expelling French troops, have started to move closer to Russia. The actions by these African nations are reflective of growing local sentiments against France, particularly in countries that have experienced coups.
The structural transformation taking place in the region’s relationship with France is indicative of changing dynamics in African geopolitics. The expulsion of French troops is seen as a reassertion of sovereignty by African nations and a shift towards diversifying partnerships beyond former colonial powers. The growing sentiment against France, especially in countries that have faced political instability, is leading to a reevaluation of alliances and partnerships. By reducing its military presence across the continent, France is adapting to the evolving geopolitical landscape and seeking to maintain influence in the region through different means.
The expulsion of French troops from multiple African nations points towards a larger trend of African countries reevaluating their relationships with former colonizers and seeking to assert their independence and sovereignty. By forging new partnerships and diversifying alliances, African nations are asserting their agency in a changing geopolitical environment. The shifts in military ties with France signal a shift towards a more balanced and diversified approach to foreign relations, with a focus on partnerships that serve the interests of African nations. As countries like Ivory Coast join the wave of expelling French troops, the continent is moving towards a future where independent decision-making and sovereignty are prioritized.
