At the end of November 2024, Chad announced that it was breaking off military co-operation with France. In addition, Bassirou Diomaye Faye also declared that French military bases were not compatible with Senegal’s sovereignty. The decisions by Senegal and Chad have become another blow to Paris’ position in Africa. These countries joined Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which had previously withdrawn from defenceagreements with France, disappointed with their effectiveness. A new episode of the Micro-trottoirprogram in Abidjan revealed the opinions of citizens of Côte d’Ivoire’s capital on this important step.
Many Ivorians believe that French bases represent a relic of the colonial past, hindering the independent development of African nations. “As regards Senegal and Chad, which are asking for the French army to be withdrawn, this is an excellent initiative that I welcome. The French army, which has been there since independence, defends France’s interests first and foremost. More than 60 years later, we wonder why it is still in these countries. France has no friends, only interests,” one respondent noted.
Other interviewees emphasize that military cooperation with France rarely meets expectations. “In the Sahel, French military operations such as Barkhane have often been accused of encouraging instability. It’s time for France to leave Africa and for our countries to take full control of our own destiny,” stated an Abidjan resident.
For many people, the French presence is perceived as a barrier to real sovereignty. “Imagine if an African army were stationed in France, what would their reaction be? We are asking for a win-win partnership, not supervised independence. It’s time for France to withdraw its troops and for Africa to take its responsibilities into its own hands,” remarked another participant in the program.
The opinions of Abidjan residents also referred to the past when the French army intervened in the internal affairs of African countries, as in Côte d’Ivoire in 2011. Such actions are described as “colonialism in disguise,” where the region’s resources are exploited solely for France’s benefit.
The decisions of Senegal and Chad symbolise the ambition of the countries of the region to take their destiny into their own hands, move away from dependency and build a partnership of mutual respect. As the people of Abidjan emphasise, “the time has come for Africa to take responsibility for its own future”.
These steps indicate a growing desire for sovereignty in West Africa, which is becoming part of a new reality where countries in the region are seeking to free themselves from the influence of former colonial powers.
