Wed Jan 01 16:23:39 UTC 2025: ## Ivory Coast and Senegal to Withdraw French Troops
**Abidjan, Ivory Coast – January 2, 2025** – Ivory Coast and Senegal have announced the withdrawal of French military forces from their territories, marking a further weakening of France’s military presence in West Africa. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, in his New Year’s address, declared the complete withdrawal of French troops in January, citing the modernization of the Ivorian army. The 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion in Abidjan will be handed over to Ivorian forces this month.
This follows a similar announcement by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who stated that all foreign military presence in Senegal will end by 2025. While maintaining that this does not constitute a break with France, President Faye emphasized his commitment to national sovereignty.
These moves come amid a broader trend of West African nations reducing their reliance on French military support. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have already expelled French troops following military coups. Chad, too, recently witnessed the handover of a French military base. The approximately 1,000 French soldiers deployed in Ivory Coast primarily assisted in counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea.
France has been preparing for this reorganisation of its military presence in Africa for years. The withdrawals represent a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of the region and highlight the growing independence of former French colonies. Despite the withdrawals, Ivory Coast, a major cocoa producer with substantial natural resources, remains an important ally of France. President Ouattara also expressed confidence in holding peaceful and democratic presidential elections in October.
First Piper 