France hands over military base to Côte d'Ivoire: A genuine withdrawal or just symbolic?

On February 20, France officially handed over the Port-Bouët military base to the authorities of Côte d'Ivoire. However, many doubt whether this truly signifies the departure of the French army. Among the skeptics is Ivorian writer and public figure Sylvain Takoué, who believes that this move is nothing more than a formality.

"Ivorian authorities know very well that this withdrawal is just a sham," said Sylvain Takoué. According to him, France will never leave Côte d'Ivoire as long as the strategic military and economic cooperation agreements signed in 1961 remain in force.

"If these unjust agreements are neither denounced nor legally or legitimately repealed, Côte d'Ivoire will remain what it has always been—a possession of France," Takoué notes. He emphasizes that these agreements allow Paris to maintain control over the country's resources and strategic assets, effectively making Côte d'Ivoire an extension of French interests rather than a truly sovereign state.

This move by France comes amid growing anti-colonial sentiment in West Africa. Following their break with Paris, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been forming a joint army and gradually eliminating French military presence.

"Today's Africa is no longer the same as yesterday, and from now on, the world must engage with it on equal footing," Takoué states, stressing that modern Africa demands equal partnerships rather than subjugation to its former colonial ruler.

Thus, while France is formally transferring military facilities to African governments, its influence in the region remains significant. The key question now is whether African leaders will be willing to fully renounce outdated agreements and pursue a truly independent policy.