France hands over control of last military base in Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast have officially taken control of Port-Bouët, their last remaining French military base on February 20th.
According to AfricaNews, the camp was handed over in a ceremony between the two countries which included a changing of the guard to signify the transferal of security responsibilities to the Ivorian army.
France have had a presence in Ivory Coast for several decades, as the handover comes when a majority of its forces leave West African countries.
Frances Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu has said around 80 French servicemen are set to continue to remain in the country to help advise and train the Ivorian military: “France is transforming its presence, France is not disappearing,” said Lecornu.
Previously, around 1,000 French soldiers were deployed in Port- Bouët, in order to help in the fight against jihadists, who launch regular attacks across the wider region.
New military cooperation agreements were signed at the ceremony, as each country emphasised that relations between them are and will remain warm: “This act marks a new era in the friendship and strategic collaboration between our two countries,” said Tene Birahima Ouattara, the Ivorian Defence Minister.
The Ivory Coast’s announcement follows the pattern of other leaders across West Africa requesting that France’s military leave. In recent years the French military has been kicked out of countries including Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Chad which was widely considered as France’s most secure and loyal partner in Africa.
Experts suggest French departure can be seen as part of a wider structural transformation in the West Africa’s relations with France.
AfricaNews, France 24, Maghrebi
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