https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250221/cote-divoire-france-to-maintain-some-military-ties-despite-troop-withdrawal-defense-minister-says-1070765779.html
Cote d'Ivoire, France to Maintain Some Military Ties Despite Troop Withdrawal, Defense Minister Says
Cote d'Ivoire, France to Maintain Some Military Ties Despite Troop Withdrawal, Defense Minister Says
Sputnik Africa
On Thursday, the camp of the 43rd French Marine Infantry Battalion in Port-Bouet was handed over to Cote d'Ivoire's armed forces and renamed "Camp Ouattara... 21.02.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-02-21T17:36+0100
2025-02-21T17:36+0100
2025-02-21T19:01+0100
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France and Cote d'Ivoire will continue military cooperation in the area of equipment and training, despite Paris' troop withdrawal, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu stated on Thursday during the ceremony of the handover of the Port-Bouet military base to the local authorities.Moreover, "France is transforming its presence but not disappearing," as it will maintain a military presence in Cote d'Ivoire through 80 troops, Minister Lecornu also said, emphasizing future cooperation between the nations in areas such as counter-terrorism.Ivorian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Thomas d'Aquin Ouattara, in whose honor the military base was renamed, is "an inspiration to Ivorian and French officers and to all those who have chosen to defend their homeland and protect their flag," according to the French official.Prior to the handover ceremony, approximately 400 French soldiers were stationed in the West African country, reportedly focused on combating Islamist extremist organizations in the Sahel. The French forces' withdrawal from Cote d'Ivoire comes after some 5,000 French soldiers left Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso as relations with those nations soured following military takeovers.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250221/cote-divoire-knows-very-well-that-french-troops-withdrawal-is-sham-ivorian-writer-says-1070763728.html
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military, france, cote d'ivoire (ivory coast), europe, west africa, withdrawal, relationship, bilateral relations, troops, military base, paris, terrorism, terrorists, fighting terrorism, cooperation
military, france, cote d'ivoire (ivory coast), europe, west africa, withdrawal, relationship, bilateral relations, troops, military base, paris, terrorism, terrorists, fighting terrorism, cooperation
Cote d'Ivoire, France to Maintain Some Military Ties Despite Troop Withdrawal, Defense Minister Says
17:36 21.02.2025 (Updated: 19:01 21.02.2025) Elizaveta Roschina
Writer/Editor
On Thursday, the camp of the 43rd French Marine Infantry Battalion in Port-Bouet was handed over to Cote d'Ivoire's armed forces and renamed "Camp Ouattara Paul Thomas d'Aquin" after the first chief of staff of the Ivorian armed forces who fought under the French flag during World War II.
France and Cote d'Ivoire will continue military cooperation in the area of equipment and training, despite Paris' troop withdrawal, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu stated on Thursday during the ceremony of
the handover of the Port-Bouet military base to the local authorities.
Moreover, "France is transforming its presence but not disappearing," as it will maintain a military presence in Cote d'Ivoire through 80 troops, Minister Lecornu also said, emphasizing future cooperation between the nations in areas such as counter-terrorism.
"Terrorism has not disappeared. On the contrary, it is changing, influenced by social media, digital tools, and the complex environment we are experiencing in the Near and Middle East. This terrorism is exacerbated by the return of competition between major powers," the French Ministry of the Armed Forces quoted Lecornu as saying at the ceremony.
Ivorian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Thomas d'Aquin Ouattara, in whose honor the military base was renamed, is "an inspiration to Ivorian and French officers and to all those who have chosen to defend their homeland and protect their flag," according to the French official.
Prior to the handover ceremony, approximately 400 French soldiers were stationed in the West African country, reportedly focused on combating Islamist extremist organizations in the Sahel.
The French
forces' withdrawal from Cote d'Ivoire comes after some 5,000 French soldiers left Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso as relations with those nations soured following military takeovers.
