Ivory Coast announced that French troops would leave the country after years of military presence, becoming the latest African country to cut ties with the former colonial power.
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara announced that the withdrawal of up to 600 troops would begin in January. The Port Bouet infantry battalion, operated by the French army, would be transferred to Ivorian troops.
We have decided on the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces in Ivory Coast.
The withdrawal reflects growing anti-French sentiment in West Africa. African leaders’ discontent is based on demands for greater autonomy and a French role in regional security and governance.
In recent years, France experienced similar setbacks in several West African countries, including Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso. Several West African countries, including coup-hit Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, asked French troops to leave recently.
The reduction in military ties comes at a time when France is making efforts to revive its waning political and military influence on the continent. France has now pulled out of more than 70 per cent of African countries where it had a troop presence after the end of its colonial rule.
France retained influence in Djibouti with 1,500 soldiers and in Gabon with 350 soldiers. Analysts described the withdrawals as part of a policy shift amid growing local sentiment against France.
