French military troops that have been in Ivory Coast for decades will leave soon, Ivorian officials said, signaling more diplomatic setbacks for France amid local discontent that has led former allies in West and Central Africa to cut ties with Paris.
President Alassane Ouattara’s announcement on Tuesday puts Ivory Coast on a growing list of African countries severing military ties with the once-influential former colonial power, as some former French allies also turn to Russian mercenaries for help fighting a clutch of armed groups in the region.
Within days of each other in November, Chad and Senegal expelled French troops, joining several Sahel countries that had previously done the same, starting in 2021.
The wave of backlash has forced France to draw up a new military strategy for the continent that officials say will be in line with the “needs” of partner countries. Temporary deployments, rather than permanent military presence, and more focus on training local forces are some features of the new policy.
Here’s what you need to know about why Ivory Coast has joined the list and how France’s influence in the region is waning:
Why is Ivory Coast expelling French troops?
In his final 2024 speech in the country on December 31, President Ouattara said the Ivorian government had decided to expel French troops because the Ivorian army is “now effective”. The president did not give other reasons.
“We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is now effective. It is within this context that we have decided on the coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces,” said Ouattara.
The 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA), a French army base located in Port-Bouet in the economic capital, Abidjan, will be “handed over” to the Ivorian army starting in January 2025, he added. French soldiers have assisted the Ivorian army in the fight against armed groups operating in the Sahel and have expanded to countries along the Gulf of Guinea, including Ivory Coast and Ghana. France also operated as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission during the country’s long civil war from 2002 to 2011.
Ouattara’s announcement on Tuesday was unexpected. The president is seen by many as one of the African leaders closest to France. In a country where anger against France is growing, this perception has deeply displeased the government. In August, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Ouattara at a private dinner at the Elysee.
Analysts say Ouattara’s decision to cut military ties may also be political, as Ivorians prepare for general elections scheduled for October. Ouattara, who has been in power since 2010, has not yet said whether he will seek a fourth term at the polls. His decision to run for president in 2020 following the sudden death of his successor and prime minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, provoked widespread anger in opposition camps.
Why is France facing a general backlash in Francophone Africa?
France has faced unprecedented and bitter criticism from citizens in its former colonies in West and Central Africa in recent years. From Mali to Ivory Coast, thousands of people have taken to the streets in mass protests, demanding that their governments cut ties with Paris forever.
Some of the resentments date back to historical controversies associated with colonialism. Direct French rule during colonization was perceived to have weakened traditional institutions, culture and leadership, forcing European officials and customs on the natives. The French officials ruling the colonies were perceived as particularly harsh, both in their administration and in their efforts to increase France’s economic terrain.
After the countries gained their independence in the 1960s, Paris built a strong network of ties with African leaders and elites, called “Francafrique” to protect France’s vast economic interests and keep French troops on the ground. More than 200 French companies operate on the continent, including oil and gas giant Total and Orano, which mines uranium to power France’s nuclear power plants. French troops have also operated throughout the region, providing training and assisting local militaries.
However, in the past five years, military-led governments in the Sahel region have been pushed back by the perceived weakness of the French military. Despite the presence of thousands of French soldiers, the activity of armed groups continued to turn the area into a hot spot for violence, with groups such as Jamati Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) waging war against security forces and officials across Mali, Burkina Faso. , and Nigeria. Increasingly, armed groups have made incursions into Ivory Coast, Ghana and Benin.
Which countries have expelled the French troops and why?
By January 2025, six African countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast – had severed military ties with France.
Mountain: In August 2020, a group of soldiers from the Armed Forces of Mali rebelled and seized power from the civilian government in Bamako, citing its inability to stop rising levels of violence. After France denounced the coup, the military government played up populist narratives and blamed France for interfering in the country’s decision-making. Hundreds took to the streets, praising the army and calling for France to leave. The coup launched a series of raids in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Guinea and Gabon.
In June 2021, Macron announced that French forces would withdraw from the Sahel in a gradual manner. By December 2023, the exit was complete. Mali has since strengthened ties with Russia, and Russian mercenaries are currently operating in the region. The conflict has continued – more than 5,000 people died across the Sahel in the first half of 2024 and millions remain displaced, according to the conflict tracker, ACLED.
Burkina Faso: The current military government took power in January 2022 due to resentment against a civilian government seen as powerless against armed groups, and the French government is believed to be supporting it. In February 2023, the military government ordered French troops to leave Burkinabe soil within a month. About 300 Russian troops were thought to have arrived in the country in January 2024.
Nigeria: As civilian governments fell in neighboring countries, the military there also staged a coup in July 2023, toppling and arresting President Mohamed Bazoum. Many Nigerians marched in favor of the army and demanded that the French troops stationed in Niamey leave. In December 2023, the military government expelled the French soldiers.
Senegal: In November 2024, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said that France “must” close its military bases from 2025 because the French military presence was not compatible with Senegal’s sovereignty. The statement came as Senegal marked 80 years since a colonial-era massacre that saw French troops kill dozens of West African soldiers angry at their treatment after fighting for Paris in World War Two. There are 350 French troops stationed in the country.
Chad: Officials also announced in November that Chad was ending a military pact with France in place since the 1960s. The country was a key link in France’s military presence in Africa and its last stronghold in the wider Sahel region. . Foreign Minister Abderaman Kulamallah called France “an essential partner” but said it “now also needs to consider that Chad has grown, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”. There are 1,000 French troops stationed in the country.
Does France still have a military presence in Africa?
Yes, France has a large military base in Djibouti, East Africa. The country, also a former colony of France, hosts around 1,500 French troops and is one of France’s largest overseas military contingents.
In West and Central Africa, France continues to maintain a small presence in Gabon, where it has about 300 troops. Gabon’s military seized power in a coup in August 2023, ending five years of rule by the Bongo family.
However, unlike other military-led countries in the region, Paris has maintained ties to Gabon’s military government, likely because of the resentment it drew from the ruling family, some analysts say.
