Côte d’Ivoire has become the latest African nation to bid farewell to French military forces, marking another blow to France’s dwindling “Francafrique” influence on the continent.
In a New Year’s Eve address, President Alassane Ouattara announced that the 1,000 French troops stationed in the country will depart by the end of January. These forces will transfer their base, located near Abidjan, the nation’s economic hub, to Côte d’Ivoire’s own military.
Ouattara explained that the decision stems from the country’s strides in bolstering its own defense capabilities. “We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is now effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organized withdrawal of French Forces in Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.
The base of the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA) in Port-Bouët will revert to Ivorian control this month and be renamed after General Ouattara Thomas d’Aquin, the first chief of staff of Côte d’Ivoire’s military.
This move aligns with a broader trend across West Africa. Nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Senegal have similarly shown French troops the door. Senegal, for instance, confirmed on December 31 that French forces stationed there would leave within the year.
Since the 1960s, French military forces have maintained a significant presence in former colonies, often centered on the Sahel region to combat jihadist threats. However, Paris’ influence has sharply declined as African nations increasingly look to forge closer ties with global powers like Russia and China.
Notably, Russia’s Wagner Group paramilitary organization has been linked to aiding some military regimes in the region, further signaling the geopolitical shift away from traditional Western partnerships.
France’s strategic retreat underscores a changing dynamic in Africa, where nations are asserting their sovereignty and exploring diverse alliances.
