Ivory Coast Orders Withdrawal of French Troops, Marking Shift in West African Alliances

President Alassane Ouattara announces the departure of French forces, reflecting anti-colonial sentiment and a push for military sovereignty in the region.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara declared the organized withdrawal of French troops, beginning in January 2025, citing the modernization of the country's armed forces.
The decision follows similar moves by Senegal and Chad, which recently announced the removal of French military bases as part of broader regional shifts away from reliance on the former colonial power.
France has faced growing anti-French sentiment and military expulsions across West Africa, including from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military juntas have aligned more closely with Russia.
The French military base in Abidjan, home to approximately 1,000 troops, will be handed over to Ivorian forces and renamed after the country's first defense chief, General Ouattara Thomas d'Aquin.
France's military presence in Africa has significantly diminished, with troops now stationed only in Gabon and Djibouti, as other global powers like Russia and China expand their influence in the region.

Courrier International