France is set to withdraw its troops from Ivory Coast, marking a significant shift in military relations between the two nations. Sources confirm that the French military base in Abidjan will officially be handed back to Ivory Coast on February 20.
The move comes after Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara’s announcement in December, which follows a broader trend of weakening military ties between France and former African colonies. Ivory Coast is the latest country in the region to distance itself from France’s military presence.
The scheduled handover will be attended by French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Ivorian counterpart Tene Birahima Ouattara. The two officials will oversee the ceremony at the Port-Bouet base in the commercial hub of Abidjan, where French forces have been stationed.
France has been reorganizing its military strategy across West Africa after the forced withdrawal of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military-led governments have increasingly opposed French presence. The pullback from Ivory Coast continues this trend of shifting alliances in the region.
In a strategic move, about 1,000 French soldiers had been stationed in Ivory Coast to combat jihadist forces operating across the region. Despite the planned withdrawal, approximately 80 French troops will remain in Abidjan to continue training exercises with Ivorian forces.
