
23/02/2025
France has officially handed over its only military base in Ivory Coast, marking the end of its decades-long presence. The Ivorian flag was raised at the base as defense ministers from both nations signed the transfer agreement. French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said some 80 French servicemen will continue to stay in the country to advise and train the Ivorian military, while the remaining soldiers will withdraw gradually throughout 2025. "France is transforming its presence, France is not disappearing,” he said. About 1,000 French soldiers were deployed in Port- Bouët and helped in the fight against jihadists, who regularly launch attacks across the wider region. New military cooperation agreements were signed at the ceremony between the two countries, with both sides stressing that relations between them remain warm.