Official announcements from the Ivorian government or verified news reports

Ivory Coast to End French Military Presence, Port-Bouët Base Handover in January 2025

Dec 31, 2024, 10:06 PM

Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French military forces from its territory, with the process set to begin in January 2025. President Alassane Ouattara made the announcement during his end-of-year address, emphasizing the modernization of the country's armed forces as a key factor in the decision. The French military base in Port-Bouët, previously occupied by the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA), will be handed over to the Ivorian army and renamed 'General of the Army Corps Ouattara Thomas d’Aquin.' This move is part of a broader trend of reducing French military presence in West Africa, following similar actions in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. France had maintained approximately 600 troops in Ivory Coast, primarily for regional security operations.