France hands over Ivory Coast base amid military strategy shift
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As Sahel nations assert their independence, the era of French military dominance in West Africa is coming to an end.
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France hands over the Port-Bouët military camp to Ivorian Army (@le_Parisien)
France handed over its military base in Cote d'Ivoire to local authorities, marking another step toward ending foreign military presence in West Africa.
The ceremony in Port-Bouet was attended by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who insisted that France is "transforming its presence" rather than fully withdrawing.
Despite this, the move symbolizes a growing rejection of French military influence in the region.
"France is transforming its presence, France is not withdrawing. Thus, 80 French servicemen, constituting the backbone of the joint squad, will come to arm and justify the French military presence here," Lecornu said, as quoted by BFMTV.
💬 "Il était évident que notre relation de défense devait évoluer"
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) February 20, 2025
Sébastien Lecornu, ministre des Armées, a pris part à la cérémonie officielle ce jeudi pour la rétrocession de la base militaire d’Abidjan aux autorités de Côte d'Ivoire pic.twitter.com/aEDEkKajDV
This decision follows a wave of anti-Western sentiment sweeping across the Sahel, where countries are reclaiming control over their security.
Senegal plans to close its permanent French bases by mid-2025, with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stressing the need to protect national sovereignty.
Similarly, France was expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where local governments rejected continued foreign intervention.
In Chad, France's exit was swiftly followed by Turkey stepping in to take over the former French base in Abéché, signaling a shift toward new strategic partnerships.
Read more: Turkey to take over former French military base in Chad
Meanwhile, Niger's interim leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accused France of financing terrorism in the Sahel, revealing growing distrust of Western motives.
As Sahel nations assert their independence, the era of French military dominance in West Africa is coming to an end.
In November 2024, Niger hosted the Conference in Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel, uniting activists, scholars, and anti-imperialist leaders to support the Confederation of Sahel States—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—in their quest for sovereignty.
The conference concluded with the Niamey Declaration, calling for the withdrawal of French and American forces from West Africa, reflecting the region's commitment to breaking free from neocolonial control.
