France will maintain a contingent of 80 military personnel in Ivory Coast, primarily for training purposes, as it transfers control of a key military base in Abidjan. This move is part of France’s

broader reduction of its military presence across West and Central Africa.

During a ceremony in Abidjan on Thursday, French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu emphasized that France was not withdrawing entirely from the country. "We are not disappearing," he stated, clarifying that the remaining personnel would form "the basis of a joint detachment" to provide training and support as needed. He added that these needs would be continuously reassessed.

France, a former colonial power, has had a military presence in Ivory Coast for decades. French forces played a crucial role in supporting President Alassane Ouattara’s accession to power in 2011 after his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to concede defeat in the 2010 election.

In late November, sources told Reuters that France was considering cutting its military presence in West and Central Africa from around 2,200 troops to approximately 600, including those in Ivory Coast. This reduction comes at a time when Russia has been expanding its influence in the region.

Ouattara confirmed in December that French forces would withdraw from Ivory Coast. The drawdown follows France’s military exits from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after a series of coups and rising anti-French sentiment.

Similarly, France began withdrawing its troops from Chad in December after the country’s government abruptly ended its defense cooperation agreement with Paris. Chad had been a key Western ally in countering Islamic militancy in the region.

France’s recalibration of its military strategy signals a shift in its approach to West and Central Africa, where geopolitical dynamics are rapidly evolving. Photo by CIA, Wikimedia commons.