Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French forces from its territory, following a trend observed in several West African nations, which reflects France's diminishing influence in the region.
President Alassane Ouattara stated that French troops will depart this month after transferring control of a military camp located in a suburb of the capital. This announcement was made during a national address broadcast on Tuesday night.
The French government has not publicly commented on the withdrawal, which aligns with similar decisions made by other West African countries, including Chad and Senegal. France's military presence in Africa is expected to be reduced to troops stationed in Djibouti and Gabon, a significant decrease from the numerous forces previously deployed in the Sahel to combat jihadist threats.
Ouattara noted that the Ivorian army has undergone substantial modernization, rendering the presence of approximately 600 French troops unnecessary. He emphasized this point in a New Year’s Eve address, stating, “We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is now complete.”
In recent years, criticism of France has surged in its former African colonies, with accusations of neocolonialist practices and patronizing attitudes gaining traction. In countries experiencing military coups, ruling juntas have utilized this discontent to bolster public support.
In Senegal, where the president requested the removal of French troops in November, opposition leaders effectively used the rhetoric of reclaiming “sovereignty” to resonate with the youth, leading to significant electoral victories.
However, the situation in Ivory Coast differs, as Ouattara is perceived as a close ally of France, particularly after the ousting of former President Laurent Gbagbo in 2011 with French military assistance. Despite the decline of France's alliances in the region, Ouattara has maintained his position as a key partner.
Having secured a third term in 2020 despite constitutional limits, Ouattara, now 83, has not disclosed his intentions regarding a potential fourth term in the upcoming presidential elections. Analysts suggest that his announcement regarding the French troop withdrawal may be an effort to gain favor with a populace increasingly critical of foreign military presence.
In light of changing dynamics, French President Emmanuel Macron's special envoy to Africa, Jean-Marie Bockel, has been tasked with reshaping France's military role on the continent. During a visit to Ivory Coast in February, Bockel remarked on the need to “remodel” the French military base there.
France is now faced with coordinating troop withdrawals from multiple countries simultaneously, having begun the exit from Chad recently. In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has indicated that there will be no military presence by 2025.
In contrast, neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have expelled French troops, have expressed skepticism regarding the withdrawals, labeling them as deceptive maneuvers by the French government.
Despite the absence of troops, France plans to continue its efforts to combat terrorism spreading from the Sahel to coastal West African nations, including Ivory Coast. In 2021, France and Ivory Coast established an international counterterrorism academy, supported by several Western nations, including the United States, which maintains a small military presence in the country.