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French troops have announced their plans to begin withdrawing from Ivory Coast in west Africa this month, signaling a shift in France’s military presence and a decrease in western influence in the region. Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara revealed in his new year’s address that French troops will be pulling out from a base in Abidjan, the country’s main city.
“We can take pride in our modernized army. It is in this context that we have decided to withdraw French forces from Ivory Coast in a coordinated and organized manner,” Ouattara stated.
With approximately 600 troops in the country, France will hand over a military infantry battalion to Ivorian forces as part of the withdrawal process. This move follows similar actions taken by Chad and Senegal in recent months, indicating a trend of reduced French military presence in Africa.
Ouattara, a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, has previously criticized countries like Mali for turning to Russian private military contractors. However, his decision to announce a symbolic break with France ahead of the October elections could be a strategic move to appeal to young voters in a region where anti-French sentiment is on the rise.
While France’s armed forces have not yet commented on the withdrawal, Macron has acknowledged the country’s efforts to reduce its military footprint in Africa. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye also announced plans to end the presence of foreign military powers in the country, including the closure of French military bases.
In addition to Ivory Coast and Senegal, France has seen a reduction in its military presence in the Sahel region, where several governments have turned to Russia amid growing anti-French sentiment. The departure of French forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has led to a significant decrease in France’s presence in the region.
Overall, France is withdrawing around 1,000 troops from Ivory Coast and Senegal, with the US also being forced to withdraw troops from Niger last year. France’s remaining military outposts include a small presence in Gabon and a 1,500-strong base in Djibouti. These changes mark a shift away from the postcolonial “Françafrique” policy that once positioned France as a dominant external power in Africa.
As the region adapts to these changes, it will be interesting to see how the geopolitical landscape evolves and how countries in west Africa navigate their relationships with former colonial powers. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
(Editor’s Note: This article was written based on the original content published on the Editor’s Digest website. Additional reporting by Aanu Adeoye, west Africa correspondent.)
