By Emmanuel Nduka
In a major shift in West African geopolitics, Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) has announced that French troops will begin their withdrawal in January 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s military independence.
The move reflects the ongoing reevaluation of foreign military presence in the region, with Ivory Coast becoming the sixth African nation to expel French forces.
In his annual end-of-year address, President Alassane Ouattara revealed that the Port Bouet military base, home to around 600 French troops, will be handed over to Ivorian control in January 2025. The withdrawal is framed as a key step in the modernization of Ivory Coast’s armed forces and a move towards greater self-reliance in its national defense.
The decision comes amid a growing trend in West Africa, where former French colonies are rethinking their military ties with Paris. Recent years have seen Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expel French forces following military coups.
Meanwhile, Chad terminated its defense pact with France in November, and Senegal, another former colony, announced plans to close all French military bases by the end of 2025.
France’s military presence in the region has long been a point of contention. While supporters argue that French troops play a crucial role in fighting terrorism and stabilizing volatile areas, critics claim their presence perpetuates neocolonial dynamics.
Leaders in countries like Ivory Coast argue that foreign forces have failed to address their security challenges, prompting a pivot toward alternative alliances, notably with Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has welcomed Ivory Coast’s decision, stating that the withdrawal of French troops signals that such forces are “no longer needed” and aligns with a broader trend in Francophone West Africa, where citizens are increasingly critical of foreign military interventions.
As Ivory Coast joins this wave of nations asserting their sovereignty, France is recalibrating its strategy in Africa, aiming to reduce permanent troop deployments while maintaining a smaller presence in countries like Djibouti and Gabon.
Under President Bola Tinubu, there has been debunked rumors of the existence, or planned establishment of a French force base in the Northwest region.
