Ivory Coast has announced the departure of French troops this month, ending a decades-long military presence in the country. President Alassane Ouattara revealed in an end-of-year address that the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion in Abidjan would be handed over to Ivory Coast’s armed forces starting January 2025.
The move marks another step in the region’s growing trend of reducing military ties with France, whose colonial rule in West Africa ended in the 1960s. France currently has nearly 1,000 troops stationed in Ivory Coast.
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Ivory Coast follows other West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, in expelling French forces. In November, Senegal and Chad also announced the departure of French soldiers from their territories, signalling a regional shift in military alliances.
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