France has announced that it will keep only 80 military personnel in Ivory Coast for training purposes as it hands over control of a military base in Abidjan. This move is part of France’s strategy to scale back its forces across West and Central Africa. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, speaking at a handover ceremony in Abidjan on Thursday, assured that France is “not disappearing” from the region. He explained that the 80 military personnel would form “the basis of a joint detachment,” and their role would be reassessed regularly to meet Ivory Coast’s needs, especially in training.
France’s Military Withdrawal from West Africa Gains Momentum
France has had a military presence in Ivory Coast for decades, playing a key role in helping President Alassane Ouattara take office in 2011 after former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat in the 2010 election.
However, the country is now reducing its troops in the region. In late November, sources revealed that France was considering cutting its military presence in West and Central Africa from around 2,200 troops to just 600, a decision coming as Russia’s influence in the region continues to grow.
Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara confirmed in December that French forces would withdraw from the country. The withdrawal follows similar moves in other African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where anti-French sentiment and military coups have led to the expulsion of French troops.
France Adjusts Military Strategy in Africa
France’s decision to reduce its military footprint in Ivory Coast is part of a shift in its African strategy. In December, France also began withdrawing troops from Chad after the government there abruptly ended its defense cooperation agreement with Paris. Chad has been a crucial Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants, and France’s exit marks a significant change in the region’s security dynamics.
This military restructuring follows France’s earlier withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The coups in these countries led to growing hostility towards France, with new military rulers seeking alternative partnerships, including with Russia’s Wagner Group. As France pulls back, the geopolitical landscape in West and Central Africa continues to evolve.
