The withdrawal of French troops in Ivory Coast marking the end of a decades-long military presence in the country, Ivory Coast is the sixth in a growing list of African nations cutting military ties with former colonial power France.
The President Alassane Ouattara confirmed that in January 2025, with the Port Bouët military base handed over to Ivorian forces. On Wednesday, Ivory Coast made a significant announcement regarding the future of its military relationship with France. The West African country confirmed that French troops, stationed in the region for decades, would begin withdrawing from Ivorian soil this month.
France maintained up to 600 troops in Ivory Coast, the long-standing military partnership between the two nations. However, this move is part of a broader pattern across West Africa, where several countries have called for the removal of French military. The decision aligns with similar actions by other West African nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where anti-French sentiment has grown. France has faced military expulsions across 70% of African countries where it once maintained a presence. Recent withdrawals include Senegal and Chad, traditionally seen as strong French allies.
These requests reflect a wider shift in the region’s political landscape, as many African nations seek to redefine their relationship with former colonial powers. France military attempts to revamp its military strategy in Africa, drastically reducing its troop presence. Meanwhile, countries like Mali and Burkina Faso have turned to Russia for military support, although this has coincided with a rise in extremist attacks and civilian casualties.
After countries won their independence in the 1960s, Paris built a strong web of connections with African leaders and elites, termed “Francafrique” to protect France’s vast economic interests and to keep French troops on the ground. More than 200 French companies operate on the continent, including oil and gas giant Total, and Orano, which mines uranium to power France’s nuclear power plants. French troops too have operated across the region, providing training and assisting local militaries France maintains a large military base in Djibouti, eastern Africa. The country, also a former colony of France, hosts close to 1,500 French troops and is one of France’s largest overseas military contingents.
In West and Central Africa, France continues to retain a small presence in Gabon where it has about 300 troops. Gabon’s army seized power in a coup in August 2023, ending five years of the Bongo family’s rule. However, unlike other military-led countries in the region, Paris has maintained ties with Gabon’s military Government, likely because of the resentment the ruling family drew, some analysts say Gabon is a small state in Central Africa that has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 years since its independence from France in 1960.
