Zim Now Writer
Ivory Coast has announced that it will begin the withdrawal of French troops stationed in the country this month, marking a significant shift in military relations. President Alassane Ouattara confirmed the decision in a statement on Wednesday, signaling the start of the troop pullout.
As part of the transition, the French Marines Infantry Battalion (BIMA) base in Port-Bouët will be handed over to Ivorian forces in January 2025. Additionally, the 43rd BIMA base will also be returned to the Ivorian military by early 2025.
At one point, France had stationed around 600 troops in Ivory Coast. However, this withdrawal follows growing anti-French sentiment across several West African nations. Countries like Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso have already expelled French troops as part of a broader trend of declining military cooperation with France in the region.
The decision reflects a shift in Ivory Coast’s military strategy and the broader regional movement against foreign military presence in West Africa.
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