Indian Council of World Affairs

Abstract: This paper explores Ivory Coast’s decision to expel French troops based on its nuanced political and regional considerations. It reflects a pragmatic assertion of sovereignty in Francophone Africa while navigating between the region’s populist nationalism and close geopolitical ties with former colonial rulers.

Ivory Coast bid adieu to 2024 with a pivotal announcement by President Alassane Ouattara regarding the withdrawal of the French troops, its former colonialist ruler, stationed in Abidjan.[i] Declaring the move a reflection of national progress, he remarked, “We can be proud of our army, whose modernisation is now effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces from Ivory Coast”[ii]. This decision marks a significant shift in the country’s geopolitical trajectory, aligning with the broader trend of asserting sovereignty across Francophone Africa by following recent actions taken by Chad and Senegal, once regarded as steadfast allies of France. 

This paper explores the factors shaping the Ivory Coast’s decision, examining whether it signals an evolution in the concept and operative aspect of sovereignty in a region grappling with the dual forces of rising nationalism and close political partnerships with former colonial rulers. Against the backdrop of diminishing French influence and its military expulsions, a trend initiated by the Sahelian states — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — this analysis seeks to understand how Ivory Coast’s nuanced approach fits within the shifting dynamics of Francophone Africa. 

Introduction

The French influence in Francophone Africa, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa, has witnessed a significant blow. The decline became evident during the expulsion of French forces from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — now independently united as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — amplified anti-French sentiment, exemplified by the cry “France Dégage” (France, get out!).[iii] It is fuelled by frustration over France’s perceived regional failures concerning security, development, and its Françafrique[iv] policies, seen as prioritising French interests and supporting regimes aligned with its agenda. This growing disillusionment has sparked protests, particularly among post-independence youth, rejecting dependency narratives and demanding autonomy.[v] This anti-French sentiment has spread beyond the AES states to Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast, as countries seek to redefine ties with their former colonial ruler and their strategic partnerships according to national priorities. 

Unlike Chad and Senegal, which ended their military cooperation with France entirely, including the French forces’ expulsion from their territories, Ivory Coast has opted for a more nuanced approach by requesting the withdrawal of French troops while maintaining military collaboration. This balanced strategy reflects its effort to respect public opinion critical of French influence while preserving strategic ties. This further highlights its unique position influenced by political and regional considerations. 

Political and Regional Considerations 

Ivory Coast has officially retroceded the French military camp, the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion, to itself and renamed it “General Ouattara Thomas d'Aquin” in honour of the country’s first chief of staff of the armed forces. The symbolic move marks the departure of the 600 French troops stationed in the country since independence, who played key roles during critical periods, including the two civil wars.[vi] The decision underscores Ivory Coast's commitment to asserting national sovereignty and strengthening its indigenous military capacity to address terrorism and insurgencies. Notably, the announcement comes as the nation prepares for the 2025 presidential elections, adding political undertones to the development. 

With anti-French sentiment on the rise, the 83-year-old President and leader of the ruling party, Rassemblement des Houphouëtistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix (RHDP), appears to be aligning his policies with the prevailing public mood. His recent address to the diplomatic corps in Abidjan, where he affirmed his good health and eagerness to continue serving the country, signals his intent to seek a fourth term.[vii] The RHDP has previously expressed support for his continued leadership in the 2025 elections,[viii] suggesting that the decision is as much about political strategy as it is about national sovereignty. 

Moreover, this withdrawal is not a complete severance of ties but a strategic balancing act. The government has emphasised its commitment to continued military cooperation with France, even as it regains control of the military base. President Ouattara has clarified that the disengagement process was mutual, which began in January 2023 with 300 French troops having already left the country. French soldiers remaining on the Ivory Coast will serve in a limited capacity, primarily for training missions under the bilateral military agreement.[ix] As part of this agreement, France and Ivory Coast jointly established the International Counterterrorism Academy in 2021, a major initiative to combat terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa[x], signalling continuing collaboration despite troop withdrawal. 

Despite such careful positioning, the decision has not escaped criticism. Former French Minister Delegate Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Ouattara of exploiting the situation for political gains, suggesting that the expulsion of French forces was opportunistic, highlighting France’s role in bringing Ouattara to power during the 2010–11 post-election crisis.[xi] This implies shifting allegiances rather than a purely principled stance. 

As Francophone West Africa’s largest economy, Ivory Coast aims to balance its national interests with its international partnerships. It is a pivotal step towards strengthening sovereignty while enhancing its capacity to address regional security challenges. The deteriorating security situation in the region, particularly along its borders with Sahelian neighbours, adds urgency to its efforts to bolster its military capabilities.[xii] Amid the wave of coups, the coastal West African state has faced tensions with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where nationalist rhetoric and hostility towards its perceived alignment with France have grown, leaving it isolated in Francophone Africa.[xiii] In addition, accusations from Burkina Faso that hosting French bases destabilised the region[xiv] reinforced the need for the Ivory Coast to restore its regional standing, aligning with the prevailing anti-French sentiment, prompting the troop withdrawal. This led to its balancing regional influence while maintaining a strategic relationship with its former colonial ruler. 

France’s Efforts towards Recalibration 

France’s influence in Francophone Africa continues to wane as military expulsions, beginning with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, now include Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast — bringing the total to six states that have removed French troops. With Gabon and Djibouti hosting remaining French forces, the growing trend has compelled France to recalibrate its regional military position. The shift focuses on reducing troop deployments while maintaining military training, equipment support, and diversifying partnerships beyond Francophone Africa.[xv] In February 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Jean-Marie Bockel as a “personal envoy” for Africa[xvi] to remodel France’s evolving military presence, particularly in Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.[xvii] Concurrently, France sought to address historical grievances by formally acknowledging the “1944 massacre”[xviii] of West African troops by the French army in Senegal and previously also honouring six African soldiers killed during that time, including four from Senegal, one from Ivory Coast and one from Burkina Faso.[xix]

Despite the efforts, recent developments have strained France’s relations with the region. Macron’s derogatory remarks accusing African governments of being “ungrateful” for France’s military support over the years sparked widespread backlash. He dismissed the narrative of the decline of French influence as false, instead portraying it as a strategic reorganisation of France’s presence in the region. His assertion that “none of these African nations would be sovereign today without French military intervention” was met with sharp criticism, particularly from Chad and Senegal. Both nations rejected Macron’s narrative, emphasising the autonomy of their respective decisions without negotiations with France while dismissing the latter’s legitimacy to secure Africa’s sovereignty, instead prioritising its strategic interests over genuine regional stability.[xx]

This further plummeted the perception of France in Francophone Africa. For Ivory Coast, this evolving dynamic creates a dilemma. While the country has called for the withdrawal of French troops, it has stopped short of severing military ties, aiming to balance regional anti-French sentiment with its historical relationship with France. However, the ongoing erosion of trust in France’s intentions may push Ivory Coast to further distance itself, signalling an assertion of sovereignty and partnerships in the region. 

Conclusion 

Francophone Africa is undergoing a significant shift, as evidenced by Ivory Coast’s recent decision to expel French military troops, marking the decline of French influence. Unlike Chad and Senegal, Ivory Coast has taken a nuanced approach, balancing regional anti-French sentiment with maintaining strategic ties to its former colonial ruler. This reflects an assertion of sovereignty and potential partnerships in Francophone Africa. However, France’s efforts to recalibrate its position have been undermined by controversial remarks from its leadership and fuelling resentment from nations like Chad and Senegal. This growing discontent indicates an assertion of sovereignty in the region, where African states attempt to revise their partnerships on an equal footing with and beyond France. It is also for consideration whether the current wave of anti-French sentiment and the subsequent French ‘military expulsions’ in West Africa is a step forward in the incomplete process of decolonisation of the last century, reflecting a ‘decolonisation 2.0.’ in Africa.

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*Nandini Khandelwal, Research Intern, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. 

Endnotes

[i] Salif D. Cheickna. “Ivory Coast: Alassane Ouattara Announces the Departure of the French Army in January 2025 and Renames the 43rd BIMA.” fratmat.info, December 31, 2024. https://www.fratmat.info/article/2511793/politique/cote-divoire-alassane-ouattara-annonce-le-depart-de-larmee-francaise-en-janvier-2025-et-rebaptise-le-43e-bima.

[ii] Maclean, Ruth. “A Staunch Ally in Africa Says French Forces Will Withdraw.” The New York Times, January 1, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/01/world/africa/ivory-coast-france-troop-withdrawal.html.

[iii] Prashad, Vijay. “France Faces Pushback in Sahel as Africa Asserts Its Sovereignty.” The Wire, December 9, 2024. https://thewire.in/world/france-get-out-african-sovereignty.

[iv] ‘Françafrique’ is the term for the French sphere of influence over former French and Belgian colonies in Sub-Saharan Africa, popularly known as Francophone Africa.

[v] Guiffard, Jonathan. “Anti-French Sentiment in West Africa - a Reflection of the Authoritarian Confrontation with the ‘Collective West.’” Institut Montaigne, January 11, 2023. https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/expressions/anti-french-sentiment-west-africa-reflection-authoritarian-confrontation-collective-west.

[vi] Op.cit.i

[vii] KOUASSI, Jean Kelly. “Alassane Ouattara Ouvre Une Nouvelle Bataille Électorale – Grosse Bagarre à Abobo : 1 Mort et Plusieurs Blessés.” Linfodrome.com, January 10, 2025. https://www.linfodrome.com/revue-de-presse/105114-alassane-ouattara-ouvre-une-nouvelle-bataille-electorale-grosse-bagarre-a-abobo-1-mort-et-plusieurs-blesses.

[viii] “Ivory Coast President Ouattara’s Party Pushes Him to Run Again.” Reuters, October 1, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ivory-coast-president-ouattaras-party-pushes-him-run-again-2024-10-01/.

[ix] Adolphe ANGOUA. “Rétrocession Du 43è BIMA à La Côte d’Ivoire: Réponses à Cinq Intox et Fakenews.” Linfodrome.com, January 4, 2025. https://www.linfodrome.com/politique/104926-retrocession-du-43e-bima-a-la-cote-d-ivoire-reponses-a-cinq-intox-et-fakenews.

[x] “Ivory Coast Opens Counter-Terrorism Academy in Partnership with France.” Reuters, June 10, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ivory-coast-opens-counter-terrorism-academy-partnership-with-france-2021-06-10/.

[xi] Bertin MAMBO. “Un Ex-Ministre Français Charge: ‘L’armée Française Expulsée de Côte d’Ivoire Par Celui Qu’elle Avait ….’” Linfodrome.com, January 2, 2025. https://www.linfodrome.com/politique/104868-un-ex-ministre-francais-charge-l-armee-francaise-expulsee-de-cote-d-ivoire-par-celui-qu-elle-avait.

[xii] Op.cit. viii

[xiii] Atkins, Hannah. “Sahelian Strongmen Have Côte d’Ivoire in Their Sights.” Africa Practice, July 31, 2024. https://africapractice.com/sahelian-strongmen-have-cote-divoire-in-their-sights/.

[xiv] Nova, Redazione Agenzia. “The Military Junta Accuses Ivory Coast and Benin of Hosting French Bases to Destabilize Burkina Faso.” Agenzia Nova, July 12, 2024. https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/burkina-faso-la-giunta-militare-accusa-costa-davorio-e-benin-di-ospitare-basi-francesi-per-destabilizzare-il-paese/.

[xv] “France, Africa: Macron Stresses France Initiated Military Drawdowns, Outlines New Approach to Africa | RANE,” stratfor.com, January 7, 2025. https://piwik.stratfor.com/situation-report/france-africa-macron-stresses-france-initiated-military-drawdowns-outlines-new.

[xvi] “Macron Appoints ‘Personal Envoy’ for Africa,” lemonade.fr, February 6, 2024. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/02/06/macron-appoints-personal-envoy-for-africa-in-apparent-policy-shift_6499288_5.html.

[xvii] Africa News. “Ivory Coast: Emmanuel Macron’s Envoy for Africa in Discussion with Alassane Ouattara over ‘Remodelling’ of French Military Presence.” Qiraat Africa, February 22, 2024. https://qiraatafrican.com/en/10912/ivory-coast-emmanuel-macrons-envoy-for-africa-in-discussion-with-alassane-ouattara-over-remodelling-of-french-military-presence/.

[xviii] “Macron Acknowledges 1944 ‘Massacre’ of West African Troops by French Army,” france24, November 29, 2024. https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20241129-macron-acknowledges-1944-massacre-of-west-african-troops-by-french-army.

[xix] “France Honours Six African Soldiers Killed on French Army Orders during World War II,” france24, July 28, 2024. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240728-france-honours-six-african-soldiers-killed-on-french-army-orders-during-world-war-ii-senegal-massacre.

[xx] Nimi Princewill. “Macron’s Claim That Africans Failed to Say ‘Thank You’ for French Military Aid Sparks Outrage.” CNN, January 7, 2025. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/07/africa/macron-africa-comments-spark-outrage-intl/index.html.