Ivory Coast President Announces Withdrawal of French Forces from the Country
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World
January 1, 2025 11:15
ivory coast - Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara stated that the French forces will withdraw from the country, emphasizing the need for the people to take pride in their modernized armed forces.
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara announced in his year-end speech that France's presence in the country will come to an end with the coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces, urging the people to embrace their modernized armed forces.
French officials had previously announced plans to reduce the number of troops in West and Central African countries from 2,200 to 600 in November.
France, which ended its colonial rule in West Africa in the 1960s, has been forced to withdraw its forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger due to military coups and growing anti-French sentiment.
Senegal also demanded the closure of France's military base on its soil by December 2023, confirming that the withdrawal of troops would be completed by the end of 2025.