Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French troops by January 2025, ending a decades-long military presence.

President Alassane Ouattara stated that the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion in Abidjan will be handed over to Ivorian forces, highlighting the army’s successful modernization.

With nearly 1,000 French soldiers currently stationed in the country, Ivory Coast follows Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Chad in scaling back military ties with France, marking a broader regional shift away from former colonial influence, Al-Jazeera has reported.

Written by B.C. Begley