Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said in an end-of-year speech that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation in January, making it the latest country to weaken military ties with the former colonial power.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara's announcement is a further sign of former colonial power France's fading military influence in West Africa.View on euronews

About 1,000 French soldiers are deployed in Côte d'Ivoire, a close ally. But the country has joined others in the region demanding their departure.

President Alassane Ouattara said in an end-of-year speech that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation in January, making it the latest country to weaken military ties with the former colonial power.

Ivory Coast has announced that French troops will withdraw from the West African nation, further reducing the military influence of the former colonial power in the region. In an end-of-year address, Ivory Coast's President, Alassane Ouattara, said the move was a reflection of the modernisation of the country's armed forces.

Ivory Coast says that French troops will leave the country starting January 2025, becoming the latest African nation to downscale military ties with its former colonial power.

Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara, on Tuesday, said that French forces would withdraw from the nation. Ouattara, while speaking in an end-of-year address to the nation, said Ivorians should be proud of the modernised state of their own armed forces.

French troops will begin to withdraw from Ivory Coast in west Africa this month, marking the latest reduction of France’s military presence and a further weakening of western influence in the region.

The troops are expected to leave Ivory Coast this month as France, a former colonial power in West Africa, fast loses influence there.