The withdrawal of the French army from Côte d’Ivoire in January 2025, announced by President Alassane Ouattara, marks a significant turning point in the geostrategic relationship between Côte d’Ivoire and France. This decision is part of a broader context of reassessing French military presences in Africa, following similar announcements in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Chad.

This announcement entails:

• Strengthening Ivorian sovereignty: The withdrawal of French forces allows Côte d’Ivoire to reinforce its sovereignty and its capacity to manage its own security affairs;

• Reorganization of the French military presence in Africa: This decision is part of a larger process of reassessing France’s military presence in Africa, reflecting evolving French strategic interests and priorities on the continent;

• Consolidation of regional cooperation: The withdrawal of French forces could also encourage greater regional security cooperation within frameworks such as ECOWAS.

In terms of challenges and prospects, this announcement raises questions about:

• The capacity of the Ivorian army: The ability of the Ivorian military to ensure national security without the support of French forces;

• Future cooperation with France: It will be important to observe how future cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and France develops, particularly in training and military support.

In summary, the withdrawal of the French army from Côte d’Ivoire in January 2025 opens a new chapter in the geostrategic relationship between the two countries, with significant implications for Ivorian sovereignty, the French military presence in Africa, and regional security cooperation.