After decades-long military force in Ivory Coast, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has announced the withdrawal of French military presence in the country. This decision is the latest in a series of moves by African nations to scale back or sever military ties with France, their former colonial power.
French troops have had a longstanding presence in Ivory Coast, with as many as 600 personnel stationed in the country at various points. Over the years, French forces have assisted the Ivory Coast in combating armed groups and providing peacekeeping efforts, particularly during the country’s civil war.
However, with the growing strength of the Ivorian military, President Ouattara declared that the time had come for the country to take full control of its security operations. The President made this announcement on December 31, 2024. During his end-of-year address, President Ouattara explained that the Ivorian army had become now effective.
He revealed that the nation now has a growing military capability and readiness to manage its own security. “We can be proud of our army, whose modernisation is now effective,” the president declared. Consequently, the French troops stationed in the country would begin their withdrawal in a “concerted and organised” manner starting in January 2025.
France’s historical role as a former colonial power has increasingly led to anti-French sentiments across the region. This, in turn, has affected several countries’ relationships with Paris. While many have lauded the decision of the Ivorian president, political analysts believe that his decision may be politically motivated.
There are speculations that the decision could be linked to the general elections scheduled for October 2025. President Ouattara, who has been in power since 2010, has not yet declared whether he will seek a fourth term, following his controversial decision to run for president in 2020 after the unexpected death of his successor, Amadou Gon Coulibaly.
On the other hand, in recent months, several West African nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have requested the departure of French military forces. Surprisingly, the most recent nations to join this movement include Senegal and Chad. This wave of expulsions signals a broader rejection of France’s military presence on the continent.
Since the end of its colonial rule, France has seen its military presence diminish in Africa, with more than 70% of the countries it once had troops in now choosing to sever ties. The French military is now only stationed in two countries: Djibouti, with around 1,500 soldiers, and Gabon, which hosts 350 troops.
