Ivory Coast Announces Expulsion Of French Troops
Ivory Coast has announced expulsion of French stationed in the country, reported some African media on January 1, 2025.
According to the reports, the announcement was made by the country's President Alassane Quattara on December 31, 2024, during his end-of-the-year address to the nation.
In the announcement, President Alassane Quattara reportedly said that the termination of the presence of French troops in Senegal reflected modernization of the country's armed forces, and that withdrawal of French troops from the country will begin in January 2025.
France is said to have 600 troops in Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast becomes the 6th African country to expel French troops from its territory. The other 5 countries that have done so are: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Senegal. The latter's government that made announcement of expulsion of French troops recently, has reportedly reiterated its decision, saying that presence of foreign troops in Senegal will end in 2025.
When France's withdrawal of its troops from Ivory Coast and Senegal is eventually completed sometime this year, presence of French troops in Africa will be limited to only one country, namely Djibouti, where 1500 French troops are said to be currently stationed.
All in all, one wonders why any country in the world would waste its resources and time to station troops in other independent countries located in far flung places, in the 21st century!
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