African nation tells French troops to leave

Ivory Coast’s decision reflects growing African push for sovereignty from former colonial powers

French troops will begin their withdrawal from Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) in January 2025, as announced by the Ivorian government. This marks another significant reduction in France's military presence in West Africa.

In his end-of-year address on Tuesday, President Alassane Ouattara stated that the move reflects the modernization of Ivory Coast’s armed forces.