Ivory Coast has announced that French military forces will be withdrawn from the West African country, reducing the influence of the former colonial power in the region.
In his annual address, President Alassane Ouattara stated that the decision reflects the modernization of the country’s armed forces.
Separately, Senegal, which last month confirmed that France would close its military bases on its territory, has stated that the withdrawal will be completed by the end of 2025.
Ivory Coast hosts the largest contingent of French military personnel in West Africa, with about 600 soldiers, while 350 others are stationed in Senegal.
“We have made the decision in a coordinated manner to withdraw French forces from Ivory Coast,” President Ouattara said.
He further stated that a French-led military battalion will be handed over to local forces.
France, whose colonial rule ended in the 1960s in West Africa, has already withdrawn its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups in those countries and the rise of anti-French sentiments.
These three countries have strengthened ties with Russia since expelling French troops from their territories.
Chad, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in the region, abruptly ended its cooperation with France in November.
There are indications that France has fewer than 2,000 troops in Djibouti and Gabon.
Political observers believe that France is making ongoing efforts to regain its political and military influence in Africa.
More than three decades after gaining independence from France, Ivory Coast has been known for its religious and ethnic harmony, as well as its well-developed economy, according to REL reports.
However, an armed rebellion in 2002 split the country in two.
Despite current instability, Ivory Coast remains the world’s largest exporter of cocoa beans, and its citizens enjoy higher incomes compared to other countries in the region.
