• Several African nations have expelled French troops, signaling a significant decline in the former colonial power’s influence on the continent
• Ivory Coast, Chad and Senegal are the latest to demand the removal of French forces, joining others such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso
• Djibouti and Gabon are now the only 2 African nations with French continuing military presence

ISTANBUL 

Over the past few years, France and its military forces have been steadily pushed out from several African nations, signaling a significant decline in the former colonial power’s influence on the continent.

The termination of key defense cooperation agreements by African nations has pushed France’s military presence – historically rooted in its brutal colonial past – to an all-time low.

As of now, French troops are in Djibouti and Gabon, two countries that have not signaled any change in their stance on French military presence within their borders.

However, French soldiers are also still in Senegal and the Ivory Coast, but the key difference is that these two countries have recently declared their intention to expel French forces.  

Djibouti and Gabon: Continuing French military presence

Djibouti: The country hosts the largest French military contingent in Africa, with approximately 1,500 troops. France’s presence in the country was formalized with the Defense Cooperation Treaty signed in 2011.

France operates five naval and air bases in Djibouti, leveraging the country’s geostrategic location at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden.

This strait is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and serving as a vital artery for global trade.

However, France is not alone in recognizing Djibouti's strategic value, as the country hosts at least eight foreign military bases, including those of the US, China, and Japan.

Djibouti is home to the only permanent US military base in Africa and was chosen by China for its first overseas military installation. 

Gabon: France’s military engagement in Gabon dates back to the country's independence in 1960, established under defense agreements signed that same year.

Currently, there are about 350 French soldiers deployed in Gabon.

Despite the historical ties, growing regional calls for autonomy and reduced foreign influence have placed this long-standing relationship under scrutiny.

Gabon’s defense agreements with France remain intact for now, but shifts in public opinion could challenge this arrangement.   

Ivory Coast and Senegal: French troops set for exit

Ivory Coast: On Jan. 1, Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara announced that French troops will withdraw from the country this month.

“We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces,” he said in an address to the nation.

The 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion in Abidjan’s Port-Bouet will be returned to Ivorian forces this month, Ouattara added.

France has yet to confirm its handover plans and there is no official confirmed timeline.

Currently, France has around 900 troops stationed in Ivory Coast, following the establishment of a military base in 2015, according to official data.   

Senegal: Senegal first declared its intention to expel French forces in November last year.

Then in late December, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced that all foreign troops would leave Senegal starting 2025.

“I have instructed the minister for the armed forces to propose a new doctrine for cooperation in defense and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all foreign military presences in Senegal from 2025,” Faye said.

As with the Ivory Coast, France has yet to confirm its plans to withdraw troops from Senegal, where it has had a military presence since 2011.

According to the French Defense Ministry, France has around 350 soldiers deployed in Senegal, known as the French Elements of Senegal (EFS) since 2011.   

Which African countries have already expelled French troops?

Until 2022, French forces were stationed in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.

However, growing anti-French sentiment, demands for greater national sovereignty, and shifting geopolitical dynamics have led to the dissolution of several military agreements.

The turning point came with the termination of Operation Barkhane, a large-scale counterinsurgency mission launched by France in 2014 to combat Islamist militants in Africa's Sahel region.

The mission, which officially ended in 2022, had been central to France's military strategy in the region.

The operation’s conclusion prompted Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to sever defense ties with France, accusing it of failing to address security threats and interfering in domestic affairs.

Macron first announced in in June 2021 that French forces would start a phased exit from the Sahel. By August 2022, French troops were out of Mali, followed by a withdrawal from Burkina Faso in February 2023.

In December 2023, the military government of Niger ordered the expulsion of French soldiers, and the last contingent left the country the very same month.

In November 2024, Chad became another African nation to order the removal of French forces. France had approximately 1,000 troops stationed in Chad, primarily in the capital N'Djamena, which served as a critical logistics hub for Operation Barkhane.

The withdrawal began last month and is expected to be completed by late January 2025.