Paris will significantly reduce French military contingents in Gabon, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, such a decision was taken by the country's President Emmanuel Macron in December, and the process has already begun, a French newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The media noted that the process of reducing the number of military personnel at most French bases in these countries has already begun, but it should accelerate this year.
According to the plans cited by the newspaper, the number of French military personnel in the capitals of Gabon, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire could be reduced to around a hundred in each of the three African countries, with them performing mainly support functions.
According to the newspaper, until recently, there were 350 French troops each stationed at bases in Libreville and Dakar, the capitals of Gabon and Senegal, and 950 soldiers in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire.
The French president's office told the newspaper that the number of French contingents in these countries will be modified from time to time, depending on the "needs of the partners" at a given time.
At the same time, the newspaper notes that the number of French contingents in Djibouti and Chad will not change, with at least 1,500 soldiers deployed in each country.