Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French troops from its soil, effectively ending a military presence that has spanned decades. According to President Alassane Ouattara, the development will see the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion in Abidjan, where French troops were stationed, handed over to the Ivorian armed forces by January 2025. This decision aligns with a broader trend in West Africa, where nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Chad have recently expelled French forces. The trend underscores France’s waning influence in the region, forcing Paris to devise a new military strategy to reduce its permanent troop presence in Africa. With the expulsion of its troops from Ivory Coast, France now retains forces in only Djibouti and Gabon. Analysts attribute the shift to growing anti-French sentiment and regional realignments, with countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso strengthening ties with Russia following French troop expulsions.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
