Ivory Coast President Announces French Troop Withdrawal in January

#Africa
Ivory Coast President Announces French Troop Withdrawal in January

Loveworld / 3 minutes

January 2, 2025

1 min read

In a significant move, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara announced in his end-of-year speech that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation in January. This decision marks another shift in the region as several countries in Africa have increasingly distanced themselves from their former colonial power, France.
The withdrawal of French troops from Ivory Coast follows a broader trend in West Africa, where French forces have been asked to leave Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all of which have seen military-led governments that have become increasingly hostile to France in recent years. These nations have accused France of interfering in their internal affairs, further straining the relationship between these governments and their former colonizer.
Ouattara’s announcement indicates a new chapter in Ivory Coast’s military and diplomatic relations with France, as the country seeks to assert greater independence in its defense and foreign policy. This move also highlights the growing shift towards regional self-reliance in security matters across West Africa.