France will relinquish its sole military base in Cote d'Ivoire on February 20, according to French media reports citing sources close to the negotiations. The handover ceremony at the Camp of the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion in Port-Bouet, Abidjan, will be attended by Ivorian Téné Birahima Ouattara, with French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu expected to participate.
"The scheduled date is February 20. Cote d'Ivoire is ready," the source reportedly said.
According to the report, the deployment of over 1,000 French soldiers was specifically intended to aid in the fight against jihadists, who frequently carry out assaults in the broader region. It is anticipated that some 80 French soldiers will stay at the base in Abidjan to conduct training exercises.
Gradually driven out of the African continent, the French army has already had to leave Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. The French military will also have to leave Senegal by the end of 2025.