The decision marks a significant change in the military landscape of the region, as former colonial power France retreats from West African nations.
Shifting Alliances: Ivory Coast Orders Withdrawal of French Troops
Shifting Alliances: Ivory Coast Orders Withdrawal of French Troops
Ivory Coast's President Ouattara announces the exit of French military, reflecting a move towards self-reliance and sovereignty.
Ivory Coast has officially declared that French troops will withdraw from its territory, a strategic maneuver that signals a reduction in the military presence of the former colonial power in the region. In a recent end-of-year address, President Alassane Ouattara stated that this decision is emblematic of the nation's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces.
This withdrawal follows a similar announcement from Senegal, which has demanded the closure of French military bases on its soil by the end of 2025. Currently, Ivory Coast hosts the largest number of French military personnel in West Africa, numbering around 600 troops, in addition to the 350 stationed in Senegal.
France has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism, prompting it to pull troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger amidst a wave of military coups and rising anti-French sentiment. Recent developments in Chad have further complicated France's military engagements in the region, as the Chadian government terminated its defense cooperation pact with Paris in November.
Senegal's new President, Bassirou Dioumaye Faye, has echoed calls for defense sovereignty, instructing the armed forces minister to craft a new security doctrine ending foreign military presence by 2025. Elected with a promise to restore national autonomy, Faye's stance reflects a growing trend in the region towards redefining military partnerships.
Historically, Ivory Coast was celebrated for its ethnic and religious harmony, as well as its increasingly developed economy as the world's leading exporter of cocoa beans. However, political turmoil stemming from a violent rebellion in 2002 has marred its stability, underscoring the country's persistent challenges despite its relative wealth when compared to neighbors.
This withdrawal follows a similar announcement from Senegal, which has demanded the closure of French military bases on its soil by the end of 2025. Currently, Ivory Coast hosts the largest number of French military personnel in West Africa, numbering around 600 troops, in addition to the 350 stationed in Senegal.
France has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism, prompting it to pull troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger amidst a wave of military coups and rising anti-French sentiment. Recent developments in Chad have further complicated France's military engagements in the region, as the Chadian government terminated its defense cooperation pact with Paris in November.
Senegal's new President, Bassirou Dioumaye Faye, has echoed calls for defense sovereignty, instructing the armed forces minister to craft a new security doctrine ending foreign military presence by 2025. Elected with a promise to restore national autonomy, Faye's stance reflects a growing trend in the region towards redefining military partnerships.
Historically, Ivory Coast was celebrated for its ethnic and religious harmony, as well as its increasingly developed economy as the world's leading exporter of cocoa beans. However, political turmoil stemming from a violent rebellion in 2002 has marred its stability, underscoring the country's persistent challenges despite its relative wealth when compared to neighbors.
