Ivory Coast asks French troops to leave

ABIDJAN, Jan 01 (AP): Ivory Coast announced on Tuesday that French troops will leave the country after a decadeslong military presence, the latest African nation to downscale military ties with its former colonial power.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said the pullout would begin in January 2025. France has had up to 600 troops in Ivory Coast.

"We have decided on the concerted and organized withdrawal of French forces in Ivory Coast," he said, adding that the military infantry battalion of Port Bouét that is run by the French army will be handed over to Ivorian troops.

Outtara's announcement follows that of other leaders across West Africa, where France's militaries are being asked to leave. Analysts have described the requests for French troops to leave Africa as part of the wider structural transformation in the region's engagement with Paris.

France has suffered similar setbacks in several West African countries in recent years, including Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso, where French troops that have been on the ground for many years have been kicked out.

Several West African nations - including coup-hit Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger - have recently asked the French to leave. Among them are also most recently Senegal, and Chad, considered France's most stable and loyal partner in Africa.