Ivorian officials say French troops stationed in the country for decades will soon leave, amid local resentment that has caused the former allies in West and Central Africa to sever ties with Paris. , said it signaled a further diplomatic setback for France.
With President Alassane Ouattara’s announcement on Tuesday, Ivory Coast will join the list of African countries cutting military ties with their once-powerful former colonial powers, and some former French allies will also join the region’s armed forces. It relies on Russian mercenaries to help fight the swarms of forces.
Within days of each other in November, Chad and Senegal expelled French troops, joining several Sahel countries that had previously done the same since 2021.
The wave of backlash has forced France to devise a new military strategy for the continent, which officials claim will be in line with the “needs” of its partners. Temporary deployments rather than permanent military presence and a greater emphasis on training local forces are some of the features of the new policy.
Here’s what you need to know about why Ivory Coast joined the list and how France’s influence in the region is declining.
Why would Ivory Coast expel French troops?
In his 2024 year-end address to the country on December 31, President Ouattara said the Ivorian government had decided to expel French troops because the Ivorian army is “currently in force.” The president did not provide any other reasons.
“We are proud of our armed forces, which have modernized effectively. It is in this context that we have decided on the coordinated and systematic withdrawal of French troops,” Ouattara said. .
The 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA), a French military base in Port Boué, in the economic capital Abidjan, will be “handed over” to the Ivorian army from January 2025, he added. French soldiers are operating in the Sahel region, supporting Ivorian forces in the fight against insurgents advancing into countries along the Gulf of Guinea, including Ivory Coast and Ghana. France also served as part of UN peacekeeping operations during the long civil war from 2002 to 2011.
Ouattara’s announcement Tuesday was unexpected. The president is seen by many as one of the African leaders closest to France. In a country where anger toward France is growing, that perception is creating deep resentment toward the government. In August, French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated Ouattara with a private dinner at the Elysée Palace.
Analysts say Ouattara’s decision to sever military ties could also be politically motivated, as Ivorians prepare for general elections scheduled for October. Ouattara has been in power since 2010, but polls show he has not yet indicated whether he will seek a fourth term. His decision to run in the 2020 presidential election, following the sudden death of his successor and Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, sparked widespread anger in the opposition camp.
Why is France facing a general backlash in Francophone Africa?
France has faced unprecedented criticism in recent years from its former colonies in West and Central Africa. Thousands of people have taken to the streets from Mali to Ivory Coast in mass protests, demanding that governments permanently sever ties with Paris.
Some of the resentment dates back to historical controversies related to colonialism. Direct French rule during colonization was perceived to have weakened traditional institutions, culture, and leadership while imposing European officials and customs on local populations. French officials governing the colonies were perceived to be particularly harsh, both in their governance and in their attempts to expand France’s economic foothold.
After the countries won independence in the 1960s, Paris established strong ties with African leaders and elites, known as the “Francafé,” to protect France’s vast economic interests and keep French troops on the ground. I built a net. More than 200 French companies have operations on the continent, including oil and gas giant Total and Orano, which mines uranium to power France’s nuclear power plants. French troops are also active throughout the region, providing training and supporting local forces.
But over the past five years, military-led governments in the Sahel region have pushed back, recognizing the weakening of the French military. Despite the presence of thousands of French soldiers, armed group activity continues to turn the area into a hotspot of violence, with groups like Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim (JNIM) is waging war against security forces and officials across Mali and Burkina Faso. , Niger. Infiltration of armed groups into the Ivorian coast, Ghana, and Benin is increasing.
Which country expelled the French army and why?
By January 2025, six African countries had severed military ties with France: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.
Mali: In August 2020, a group of soldiers from the Malian national army revolted and seized power from the civilian government in Bamako, citing an inability to stop rising levels of violence. After France condemned the coup, the junta played up populist rhetoric and accused France of interfering in the country’s decision-making. Hundreds of people took to the streets praising the military and calling for France to leave. The coup began a series of takeovers in Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and Gabon.
In June 2021, President Macron announced that French troops would be withdrawn from the Sahel in stages. The withdrawal was completed by December 2023. Mali has since strengthened ties with Russia, and Russian mercenaries are now operating in the region. The conflict continues, with more than 5,000 people killed across the Sahel in the first half of 2024, and millions remain displaced, according to conflict tracking firm ACLED.
Burkina Faso: The current military junta took power in January 2022 amid resentment at a civilian government seen as powerless against armed groups, and the French government was thought to be supporting it. . In February 2023, the military government ordered French troops to withdraw from Burkina Faso within one month. Approximately 300 Russian troops are thought to have arrived in the country in January 2024.
Niger: As civilian governments collapsed in neighboring countries, the country’s military also staged a coup in July 2023, overthrowing and detaining President Mohamed Bazoum. Many Nigerians marched in support of the military and called for the withdrawal of French troops stationed in Niamey. In December 2023, the junta expelled French soldiers.
Senegal: In November 2024, President Bashir Diomai Fay said France “should” close military bases starting in 2025, as the French military presence is not consistent with Senegal’s sovereignty. The declaration comes as Senegal marks 80 years since a colonial massacre in which dozens of West African soldiers were killed by French troops angry at their treatment after they fought for Paris in World War II. . There are 350 French troops stationed in the country.
Chad: Also in November, officials announced that Chad would end a military agreement with France that had been in place since the 1960s. The country was a key link for France’s military presence in Africa and its last foothold in the wider Sahel region. Foreign Minister Abderrahmane Kouramala called France an “indispensable partner,” but added: “We must now also take into account that Chad is a growing, mature and sovereign country that is very jealous of its sovereignty.” Ta. There are 1,000 French troops stationed in the country.
Does France still have a military presence in Africa?
Yes, France maintains a large military base in Djibouti in eastern Africa. The country is also a former French colony and has nearly 1,500 French troops stationed there, making it one of France’s largest overseas troops.
In West and Central Africa, France maintains a small presence in Gabon, with about 300 troops. Gabon’s military seized power in a coup in August 2023, ending the five-year rule of the Bongo family.
But unlike other military-led countries in the region, Paris maintains ties with Gabon’s military junta, which some analysts say is likely due to resentment sparked by the ruling family. .
