Cote d’Ivoire Announces French Military Exit After Decades-Long Stay

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has announced that French forces will hand over control of their military base in Abidjan in January, continuing the former colonial power’s military exit from West Africa.

In his end-of-year address to the nation on Tuesday, Ouattara said the withdrawal from the 43rd BIMA (Infantry and Marine Battalion of Port-Bouet) – which ends a military presence that has lasted for decades – would be “coordinated and organised”.

The president urged Ivorians to take pride…