French troops stationed in Ivory Coast are set to begin their withdrawal this month, marking a significant reduction in France’s military footprint in the region and signaling a shift in Western influence across West Africa. The announcement was made by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara during his New Year’s address, as reported by the Financial Times.
Ouattara stated that the French troops would vacate their base in Abidjan, the country’s main city, in a move coordinated with French authorities. “We can be proud of our army, which has now been effectively modernised. It is in this context that we have decided the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces from Ivory Coast,” he said.
The pullout will involve the handover of a military infantry battalion to Ivorian forces. France currently has about 600 troops stationed in the country, a legacy of its colonial history.
This decision comes amid a broader trend of African nations seeking to redefine their relationships with France. Recent months have seen Chad and Senegal make moves to reduce French military presence, reflecting growing anti-French sentiment across the continent. In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced in his New Year’s message that all foreign military forces would depart the country in the coming year, following the closure of French military bases in November.
France’s declining influence in West Africa is evident in the Sahel region, where military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French forces and turned to Russian allies, including the Wagner Group, for security assistance.
Despite these shifts, Ouattara has maintained close ties with French President Emmanuel Macron. However, analysts suggest that his decision to announce the withdrawal could be a strategic move ahead of the October elections, where he is expected to run for a contentious fourth term. Appealing to younger voters, who have increasingly voiced anti-French sentiment, may offer political leverage.
The Financial Times highlights that this withdrawal forms part of a broader trend of declining French military presence in Africa. Macron has acknowledged this shift, stating in a July speech that France aims to foster “a humble, demanding and long-term partnership” in the region.
France’s remaining military assets in Africa include a small contingent in Gabon and a larger base in Djibouti, home to 1,500 troops. Macron recently visited Djibouti, underlining its strategic importance as France’s footprint across West Africa continues to diminish.
