Ivory Coast has announced that French troops will withdraw from its territory this month, ending France’s decades-long military presence in the West African nation.
President Alassane Ouattara said in an end-of-year speech that the withdrawal will begin in January, starting with handing over the Port Bouët military base to Ivorian forces, Africa News reported.
“We have decided on a coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces,” Ouattara said. He highlighted the move as a reflection of the modernization of the country’s armed forces.
Ivory Coast is the latest in the growing list of former French colonies in Africa to require French forces to leave their countries. These include Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as Senegal and Chad, two historically strong French allies.