French military forces that have been in Ivory Coast for decades will leave soon, Ivory Coast officials said, signaling further diplomatic setbacks for France amid domestic discontent that has led West and Central African allies to cut ties with Paris.

President Alassane Ouattara advertisement Tuesday puts Ivory Coast on a growing list of African countries cutting military ties with the powerful former colonial power, as some of France’s former allies also turn to Russian mercenaries to help fight a range of armed groups in the region.

Within days of each other in November, Chad and Senegal It expelled French forces, joining several Sahel countries that had done the same earlier, starting in 2021.

The wave of rejection has forced France to develop a new military strategy for the continent that officials say will be compatible with the “needs” of partner countries. Temporary deployments, rather than a permanent military presence, and more emphasis on training local forces, are some features of the new policy.

Here’s what to know about why Ivory Coast made the list and how France’s influence in the region is diminishing:

Why did Ivory Coast expel French forces?

In his 2024 year-end address to the country on December 31, President Ouattara said the Ivory Coast government decided to expel French forces because the Ivorian army “is now effective.” The president did not mention any other reasons.

“We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is now effective. In this context, we decided on the coordinated and orderly withdrawal of French forces,” Ouattara said.

He added that the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (PIMA), a French army base located in Port Boué in the economic capital of Abidjan, will be “handed over” to the Ivorian army as of January 2025. French soldiers are assisting the Ivorian army in the fight against armed groups operating in the region. Sahel and is expanding into countries along the Gulf of Guinea, including Ivory Coast and Ghana. France also served as part of a UN peacekeeping mission during the country’s long civil war from 2002 to 2011.

Ouattara’s announcement on Tuesday was unexpected. Many view the president as one of the African leaders closest to France. In a country where anger against France is growing, this perception has generated deep dissatisfaction with the government. In August, French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated Ouattara at a private dinner at the Elysee Palace.

Analysts say Ouattara’s decision to sever 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 announced whether he will seek a fourth term at the ballot box. His decision to run for president in 2020 after the sudden death of his successor and Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, sparked widespread anger in the opposition camps.

Why does France face public opposition in Francophone Africa?

France has faced unprecedented bitter criticism from citizens in its former colonies in West and Central Africa in recent years. From Mali to Ivory Coast, thousands of people took to the streets in massive protests, calling on their governments to sever ties with Paris forever.

Some of the dissatisfaction is due to historical differences linked to colonialism. Direct French rule during colonialism was seen as weakening traditional institutions, culture, and leadership while imposing European officials and European customs on the local population. French officials governing the colonies were seen as particularly harsh, both in their administration and in their attempts to increase France’s economic foothold.

After the countries gained independence in the 1960s, Paris built a strong network of relationships with African leaders and elites, which it called “Francofriques,” to protect France’s broad economic interests and keep French forces 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 nuclear power plants in France. French forces also operated throughout the region, providing training and assistance to local armies.

However, in the past five years, military-led governments in the Sahel have grappled with the perceived weakness of the French military. Despite the presence of thousands of French soldiers, the activity of armed groups continued to turn the region into a hotbed of violence, as groups such as the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin)JNIM) waged war on security forces and officials across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Increasingly, armed groups have made incursions into Ivory Coast, Ghana and Benin.

Which countries expelled French forces and why?

By January 2025, six African countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast – had severed their military relations with France.

financial: In August 2020, a group of Malian Armed Forces soldiers rebelled and seized power from the civilian government in Bamako, citing their inability to stop increasing levels of violence. After France condemned the coup, the military government ramped up populist rhetoric and blamed France for interfering in the country’s decision-making process. Hundreds took to the streets, praising the army and demanding France’s departure. Coup A series of acquisitions began In Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and Gabon.

In June 2021, Macron announced that French forces would leave the Sahel region in a gradual manner. By December 2023, the exit is complete. Since then, Mali has strengthened its ties with Russia, and Russian mercenaries are currently operating in the region. The conflict continues, with more than 5,000 people dying across the Sahel in the first half of 2024, and millions still displaced, according to ACLED, which tracks the conflict.

Burkina Faso: The current military government seized power in January 2022 out of dissatisfaction with the civilian government, which is seen as powerless against armed groups and is believed to be supported by the French government. In February 2023, the military government ordered French forces to leave Burkina Faso within a month. About 300 Russian soldiers are believed to have arrived in the country in January 2024.

Niger: As civilian governments fell in neighboring countries, the military also staged a coup in July 2023, ousting President Mohamed Bazoum and detaining him. Many Nigerians marched for the army and called on French forces stationed in Niamey to leave. In December 2023, the military government expelled French soldiers.

Senegal: In November 2024, President Basseru Diomaye Faye He said That France “must” close its military bases from 2025 because the French military presence is not compatible with Senegal’s sovereignty. The announcement came as Senegal marked the 80th anniversary of a colonial-era massacre that saw French forces kill dozens of West African soldiers angry at their treatment after fighting for Paris in World War II. There are 350 French soldiers deployed in the country.

Chad: Officials announced, also in November, that Chad was ending A military agreement with France has been in place since the 1960s. The country was a key link in the French military presence in Africa and its last foothold in the wider Sahel region. Foreign Minister Abderrahmane Kalamallah described France as an “essential partner” but said that “it must now take into account that Chad has grown and matured and is a sovereign country that is very jealous of its sovereignty.” One thousand French soldiers are deployed in the country.

Does France still have any military presence in Africa?

Yes, France maintains a large military base in Djibouti, East Africa. The country, a former colony of France, hosts approximately 1,500 French soldiers and is one of the largest French military contingents abroad.

In West and Central Africa, France continues to maintain a small presence in Gabon, where it deploys about 300 soldiers. Gabon’s army seized power in a coup in August 2023, ending five years of Bongo family rule.

However, unlike other military-led countries in the region, Paris has maintained ties with Gabon’s military government, likely due to discontent aroused by the ruling family, some analysts say.