French troops will begin their withdrawal from Ivory Coast, as announced by the country's president, Alassane Ouattara, during his New Year's speech.
In the televised speech, Ouattara stated: “We have decided on a coordinated and organized withdrawal of French troops.”
The retreat is scheduled to begin in January. The president also mentioned plans to modernize Ivory Coast's military. Consequently, the French naval infantry battalion currently stationed at Port Bouet will be handed over to Ivorian forces.
Currently, some 600 French soldiers are stationed in the Ivory Coast. Additionally, several West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have previously urged France to withdraw its troops.
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France maintained a military presence in countries in the region even after the end of its colonial rule, and recently participated in the fight against Islamist extremists.
When French troops leave Ivory Coast, the only French military bases left in Africa will be in Gabon and Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa.