The Government of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) has announced that French troops will begin their withdrawal from the country in January 2025, marking a significant reduction in France’s military presence in West Africa.
The move, which reflects Ivory Coast’s broader efforts to modernize its armed forces, was disclosed by President Alassane Ouattara during his end-of-year address on Tuesday.
“We have decided on the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces,” Ouattara stated, adding that the Port Bouet military base, a key facility used by French troops, will be handed over to Ivorian control early next year.
France has maintained a military presence in Ivory Coast since the nation gained independence in 1960, with up to 600 troops stationed in the country as part of broader security and defense agreements.
However, this decision aligns with a growing regional trend in West Africa, where several nations are reassessing their military ties with former colonial powers.
In recent years, France has faced mounting opposition to its military footprint across the region. Its troops have been expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups, with local leaders arguing that the presence of foreign forces has done little to address persistent security challenges such as terrorism and insurgencies.
In November 2024, Chad also ended its defense cooperation agreement with France, and Senegal announced plans to close all French military bases on its soil by the end of 2025.
Criticism of France’s military role in Africa has long simmered, with detractors accusing Paris of perpetuating neocolonial influence through its troop deployments.
While proponents argue that French forces contribute significantly to counterterrorism and regional stability, dissatisfaction with their effectiveness has led many West African nations to seek alternative partnerships, including growing ties with Russia.
When Ivory Coast first announced plans for the withdrawal in December, the Russian Foreign Ministry weighed in, stating that France’s exit signifies its reduced influence in the region.
“This generally fits into the logic of the processes taking place in the Francophone countries of West Africa, whose populations are increasingly critical of the large-scale presence of foreign troops,” the ministry said.
France, meanwhile, has been forced to rethink its military strategy in Africa. As its troop deployments diminish, Paris aims to shift its focus to targeted operations rather than maintaining large-scale permanent bases. Currently, France plans to retain about 1,500 soldiers in Djibouti and a small contingent of 350 troops in Gabon, emphasizing a leaner and more strategic presence on the continent.
For Ivory Coast, the withdrawal of French troops represents a step toward bolstering its national sovereignty and enhancing the capabilities of its armed forces.
As President Ouattara noted, the modernization of the military is critical to ensuring the nation’s security and fostering self-reliance in addressing domestic and regional challenges.
This development underscores the broader geopolitical shifts underway in West Africa, as nations re-evaluate their relationships with foreign powers and assert greater control over their security policies.
For France, it signals a moment of reckoning as its influence in its former colonies continues to wane, reshaping the dynamics of military and diplomatic engagement in the region.