Kividi Koralage, a scholar of international relations and development, examines in this blog how Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Niger are redefining their paths away from France’s influence, marking a pivotal moment in Africa’s pursuit of true sovereignty.

Solidarity rally in Accra, Ghana on April 30. Photo: SMG, sourced from the People’s Dispatch.

The Golden Stool of the Ashanti kingdom in West Africa has long symbolised unity, sovereignty, and the unbreakable spirit of African self-determination. Today, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Niger are channelling that same spirit in their struggle against the hidden chains of France’s sphere of influence, the Francafrique. The withdrawals of these three countries from both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Francophonie in 2025, alongside efforts to reclaim control over resources and governance, signal a decisive break from decades of neocolonial influence.  Observing these nations as they reclaim economic and political agency, forge new alliances, and push toward a second liberation demonstrating the resilience and determination of African states. Understanding this turning point is crucial for the continent and the world.

The Fall of Francafrique: West Africa’s Break with French Neocolonialism

For over six decades, France proclaimed that it had granted Africa its freedom. But beneath the surface, the colonial chains remained tightly fastened. The tricolour red, white and blue flag may have been lowered in 1960, but Paris retained control over West Africa’s currency, resources, armies, and political elite. This system, known as Francafrique, was colonialism disguised in the modern garments of political patronage, economic dependency, and military alliance. The cracks in this order are now unmistakable. In March 2025, Burkina Faso and Niger formally withdrew from the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), a cultural and diplomatic institution long seen as an extension of French influence.

Their departure marks not just a rejection of symbolic ties, but a broader rupture with the structures of neocolonialism that have defined West Africa’s relationship with France for decades. As a researcher focused on understanding the decolonisation, sovereignty, and shifting global power dynamics, I find this moment particularly significant. It reflects the unravelling of Francafrique and the broader struggle of African nations to reclaim true independence in a multipolar world, a struggle that deserves global attention.

The Architecture of Neocolonialism

The independence of Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Niger in the 1960s was largely symbolic, a political theatre that masked the reality of continued French dominance. At the core of this control was the Central African (CFA franc), a currency created in 1945 and pegged to the French treasury. By requiring countries to deposit large portions of their foreign exchange reserves in Paris, France, it effectively dictated monetary policy. This arrangement limited economic sovereignty, blocked independent monetary reforms, and ensured that African economies remained subordinate to French economic interests.

Beyond currency, the French state secured exclusive rights over resource extraction. Niger’s uranium mines, vital for France’s nuclear power industry, were operated by French firms like Orano under highly advantageous terms for France. In Côte d’Ivoire, French companies dominated cocoa production and export, often at the expense of local farmers’ livelihoods. Burkina Faso’s gold mines were similarly exploited under contracts that benefited French investors disproportionately. These arrangements drained wealth and perpetuated economic inequality, fueling resentment among local populations.

Politically, France maintained influence through military bases and defence agreements. French troops could intervene ostensibly to maintain stability, but in practice, they protected regimes loyal to Paris and suppressed opposition movements. Leaders who defied French interests often paid a heavy price. Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso was assassinated in 1987 after rejecting Francafrique; Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d’Ivoire was ousted in 2011 following French-backed military intervention; and Niger’s Mamadou Tandja, who sought greater control over uranium, was removed in a 2010 coup. These cases highlight how France’s influence extended beyond economics into the destabilisation of regimes unwilling to comply. This system of political patronage entrenched authoritarianism and undermined democratic governance, blocking genuine self-determination for these countries.

Everyday Life Under Neocolonial Chains

The legacy of Francafrique has continued to shape the daily lives of millions. In Côte d’Ivoire, for instance, cocoa exports are still dominated by French companies, leaving local farmers struggling with low prices and little profit from the crop that sustains their families. Many young Ivorians see migration to the cities or abroad as the only viable option, with rural poverty feeding into cycles of unemployment and disillusionment.

In Niger, the inequality between resource wealth and people’s lived realities is especially stark. Despite the fact that its uranium has powered nearly half of France’s electricity, families in Niger often go without basic lighting. One activist bitterly observed that “children of Niger didn’t even have a single candle to study at night” while their country’s natural wealth illuminated French homes. This striking disparity illustrates how decades of unequal contracts drained resources without building lasting prosperity for the people.

The cultural dimension of neocolonialism also runs deep. In 2024, Niger’s junta leaders renamed “Avenue Charles de Gaulle” in Niamey to “Avenue Djibo Bakary,” in honour of a nationalist leader who opposed colonial rule. As the government explained, “most of our avenues … bear names that are simply reminders of the suffering and bullying our people endured during the ordeal of colonisation.” Renaming streets may appear symbolic, but for ordinary Nigeriens, it marked an act of reclaiming identity and rewriting history in their own terms.

Education, too, has been caught in the fallout of shifting ties. In Burkina Faso, several students found their scholarships and visas revoked when diplomatic relations with France deteriorated. One student, who had prepared for years to study in Lyon, was forced to abandon his plans after the consular office closed. These stories illustrate how geopolitical realignments can suddenly reshape the hopes and futures of young people.

The erosion of French influence has also played out in the realm of media and information. Niger suspended broadcasts of international outlets such as the BBC in 2023, including its Hausa-language programs that reached nearly 2.4 million adults, which contribute to  17% of the country’s population. For many communities, these programs were a trusted source of independent news. Their abrupt removal created an information vacuum, limiting civic debate and further isolating citizens from the outside world.

These tensions culminated in March 2025 when Burkina Faso and Niger, along with Mali, announced their withdrawal from the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), an institution long criticised as a cultural extension of French influence. Their departure followed an earlier exit from ECOWAS, replaced with the newly created Confederation of Sahel States. These decisions are not mere diplomatic gestures; they directly affect cross-border movement, trade, and cultural exchange. For ordinary people, they mean reimagining regional identity and belonging outside the structures that had, for decades, been tied to Paris.

The Erosion of the Post-colonial Order

By the early 21st century, cracks in this system began to appear. French military operations in the Sahel, such as Operation Barkhane launched in 2014, ostensibly aimed at combating jihadist groups, increasingly became associated with perpetuating instability. Despite years of intervention, security deteriorated, causing civilian casualties and displacement, and fostering distrust toward French forces.

Economic grievances grew as poverty persisted and unemployment rose, especially among youth. The benefits of resource wealth rarely reached ordinary citizens, leading to widespread perceptions that France prioritised its profits over African welfare. Local civil society movements and political leaders began openly questioning the legitimacy of France’s continued presence.

The Breakaway: From Protests to Coups

The years 2022 to 2024 witnessed a decisive rupture. Burkina Faso experienced two coups, with Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s government decisively rejecting French military presence and forging new alliances with Russia and Turkey. His administration rewrote mining contracts to prioritise national interests, signaling a rejection of the old economic order.

Niger followed suit with the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, a staunch French ally. The new military leadership expelled French troops and diplomats, seized uranium operations, and banned French media, asserting sovereignty and demanding control over national resources.

Côte d’Ivoire, though still maintaining formal ties with France, saw growing pressure from within to diversify its international partnerships and reduce economic dependence. President Alassane Ouattara’s 2025 decision to order French forces out of the Port Bouët base symbolised this gradual but meaningful shift.

Regional Realignments and New Alliances

In 2023, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), representing more than a military pact; it was a political statement against Western dominance. Their phased withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), seen by some as a Western-aligned bloc, highlighted a desire for autonomous regional governance free from external control.

These nations began to seek out new diplomatic and economic partners in Russia, China, and Turkey, attracted by offers of military aid and infrastructure investment without the political conditions characterised by French relationships. This shift towards a multipolar approach reflects a broader contest over influence in Africa, with competing global powers vying to fill the void left by France’s retreat.

Why This Moment Matters

The unravelling of Francafrique is not simply France losing influence, it indicates a reclaiming of agency by African nations long subject to neo-colonial constraints. The CFA franc system, resource extraction deals, and military interventions were structural mechanisms designed to maintain economic dependency and political control. Their dismantling challenges centuries-old power asymmetries.

However, this process is fraught with complexity. The Sahel faces ongoing security crises, economic vulnerabilities, and the risk of substituting one form of external dependency for another. The capacity of these states to build resilient institutions, diversify economies, and engage in equitable partnerships will determine whether this second wave of independence achieves lasting sovereignty.

The Second Liberation

The independence movements of the 1960s tore down the physical banners of colonialism, but the invisible chains of neocolonialism held firm. Today, the political upheavals and assertive policies of Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Niger signal a second liberation, one aimed at reclaiming true economic, political, and cultural sovereignty.

The path ahead is challenging and uncertain, but the clear message is that the old model, where independence was a façade and Paris pulled the string, is irrevocably broken. For these West African nations, the future is theirs to write.