Cote d’Voire has announced that French troops will leave the country by the end of the month, marking the end of a decades-long military presence. This move positions the country as the latest African nation to recalibrate its military ties with its former colonial power.
This development fuels suspicions that these expulsions of French troops from former colonies may not signify true freedom or independence. Instead, it could indicate a strategic policy shift by France from overt physical military presence to subtler, proxy forms of control, akin to the British colonial model.
True liberation, as seen in some Sahel nations, goes beyond merely expelling foreign troops.
For Cote d’Voire to demonstrate genuine independence, it must dismantle all colonial-era structures and agreements that perpetuate economic and political dependency, such as:
- Nationalizing Natural Resources: Cote d’Voire must reclaim control over its cocoa, gold, oil, and other resources, ensuring the wealth benefits its citizens.
- Reclaiming Financial Autonomy: The country must withdraw its foreign reserves from the Bank of Paris and take full control of its national wealth.
- Currency Sovereignty: Printing and managing its currency would signify a break from colonial financial systems.
- Regional Autonomy and Decision-Making: Cote d’Voire should assert full authority over its governance structures, prioritizing domestic interests over foreign influence.
The irony of this announcement lies in the current leadership of Cote d’Voire, a regime seen by critics as a product of French influence.
For skeptics, this casts doubt on the sincerity of the move, framing it as part of a broader French strategy to adapt to the growing resistance against its direct military presence in Africa.
Only time, and decisive action on these fronts, will prove whether Cote d’Voire is genuinely charting a path to sovereignty or if this is simply a rebranding of colonial dominance.
For now, this looks more like a tactical adjustment by France than a revolutionary shift in Africa’s quest for independence.
