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Ivory Coast has announced that French troops will withdraw from the West African nation, further reducing the former colonial power’s military influence in the region.
In a year-end speech, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said the move was a reflection of the modernization of the country’s armed forces.
On the other hand, Senegal, which last month announced that France would have to close its military bases on its territory, confirmed that the withdrawal would be completed by the end of 2025.
Ivory Coast hosts the largest contingent of French troops remaining in West Africa.
There are about 600 French soldiers in the country and 350 in Senegal.
France, whose colonial rule in West Africa ended in the 1960s, has already withdrawn its soldiers from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following military coups in those countries and growing anti-French sentiment.
The government of Chad, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants in the region, abruptly ended its defense cooperation pact with France in November.
Senegalese President Bassirou Dioumaye Faye stated: “I have instructed the Minister of the Armed Forces to propose a new doctrine of cooperation in defense and security, which implies, among other consequences, the end of all foreign military presence in Senegal from 2025”.
Faye was elected in March on a promise to guarantee sovereignty and end dependence on foreign countries.
France will maintain a small presence in Gabon.
For more than three decades after its independence from France, Côte d’Ivoire (also known by its French name, Côte d’Ivoire) was known for its religious and ethnic harmony, as well as its well-developed economy.
The West African country was hailed as a model of stability. But an armed rebellion in 2002 divided the nation in two. Peace agreements alternated with renewed violence as the country slowly moved toward a political resolution to the conflict.
Despite the instability, Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest exporter of cocoa beans and its citizens enjoy a relatively high level of income compared to other countries in the region.
