France ends control of a base in Ivory Coast, hands it over to the host

On February 20, France officially handed over control of the Port-Bouët barracks of the 43rd Marine Battalion (BIMA), its last military base in Ivory Coast, to the local authorities.

French and Ivorian soldiers perform a formal handover ceremony of control of the Port-Bouët military camp in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on February 20. (Source: THX)

According to Xinhua news agency, the ceremony with the changing of the guard marked the transfer of security responsibility to the Ivorian army. At the same time, the base will be renamed after the late first Chief of General Staff of the Ivorian army, General Thomas d'Aquin Ouattara.

Some 1,000 French troops previously deployed in Port-Bouët to support the fight against jihadists in the country and region will gradually withdraw throughout 2025.

"France is transforming its presence, not disappearing," said French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, noting that around 80 French troops will remain in Ivory Coast to advise and train the host country's national army.

New military cooperation agreements were signed at a ceremony between the two countries, with both sides stressing that relations between the two countries remain warm.

"This law marks a new era in the friendship and strategic cooperation between our two countries... The geopolitical changes and current security challenges on the continent will guide our common goodwill in promoting common security for sustainable regional stability," said Ivory Coast Defense Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara.

Thanking France for the "support and trust shown in the process of strengthening the capacity of the Ivorian armed forces", Mr. Ouattara reiterated the West African country's commitment to continue this "strategic" cooperation.

In recent years, a series of West African countries have asked France to withdraw its military presence, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Chad, which was once considered Paris's most stable and loyal partner in Africa.

The French government attempted to restore its waning political and military influence on the continent by introducing a new military strategy.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phap-cham-dut-kiem-soat-mot-can-cu-tai-bo-bien-nga-ban-giao-cho-chu-nha-305066.html