In the coming days, France will hand over its only military base in Ivory Coast, its former prominent colony in West Africa, with both countries affirming that the transition is progressing smoothly and amicably. The Port-Bouet military camp, which spans 230 hectares (570 acres) and borders Ivory Coast’s main city, has been a cornerstone of the country’s security for decades, playing a key role in stabilizing the world’s leading cocoa producer following coups and unrest that began in 2000.
This withdrawal of French troops, announced by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in December, is part of a broader regional trend where African nations are reducing military ties with France. At the entrance to the base, watchtowers have been repainted in the national colors of Ivory Coast—orange, white, and green—while the flags of both countries continue to fly side by side.
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By February 20, the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion’s camp will be renamed Camp Thomas d’Aquin Ouattara in honor of the Ivorian army’s first chief of staff, with a portrait of him to be unveiled at the command post. For several weeks, about 100 Ivorian paratroopers have been stationed at Port-Bouët, where they have been conducting combat training and team-building activities alongside their French counterparts.
“We do combat training and team-building activities with our French partners every day,” said Captain Ange Yoboue Kouame, leader of the Ivorian paratrooper regiment. “The cohabitation is very good.”
At the shooting range, French Chief Warrant Officer Frederic supervised one of the Ivorian army’s first practice sessions. “We’re just here with two instructors to advise and support them. Afterward, they’ll be using the range on their own,” he explained.
France is reconfiguring its military ties with African nations after the expulsion of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military governments hostile to Paris have assumed power. Around 1,000 French soldiers were stationed at Port-Bouët, where they assisted in combating jihadists who frequently carry out attacks in the broader region.
Both nations have expressed that the handover process has been cooperative and harmonious.
“A Historic Moment”
“For the past 18 months, we’ve been trying to find a point of disagreement with the Ivorians,” noted a French colonel. “There’s been a collaborative approach, unlike the confrontational stance seen elsewhere,” said an Ivorian officer, referencing the shared military history that aids in their cooperation. “This is a historic moment in a mature relationship between two nations. We’re not proceeding with this handover due to a crisis; it’s a necessary evolution that both our presidents desire,” said Colonel Damien Mireval, the French defense attaché in Abidjan.
The two armies’ ties date back to 1961, following independence, when a defense agreement was signed. After the 2002 attempted coup against then-President Laurent Gbagbo and the subsequent rebel takeover of part of the country, France deployed the Licorne (Unicorn) force to protect French nationals and help stabilize Ivory Coast. In 2011, alongside the United Nations, the force conducted airstrikes on Gbagbo’s residence following a prolonged post-election crisis. The mission concluded in 2015.
The French withdrawal will occur gradually throughout 2025, but around a hundred French soldiers will remain in Ivory Coast for ongoing training and support missions. In early January, a new military academy for information and communication systems was established at the base, with twelve lieutenants from seven French-speaking African countries currently undergoing training there.
AFP
