Ivory Coast President announces withdrawal of French troops from his country

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said Tuesday that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation, continuing the former colonial power's military withdrawal from the region.

In an end-of-year address to the nation, Ouattara said Ivorians should be proud of the modernization of their armed forces.

"In this context, we decided on a coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces," he added.

France is considering reducing its military presence in West and Central African countries, including Ivory Coast, to 600 troops from about 2,200 currently, sources told Reuters in November.

France, whose colonial rule in West Africa ended in the 1960s, has already withdrawn its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following military coups in those countries and widespread anti-French sentiment.

The Chadian government also abruptly terminated a defense cooperation agreement with France last November.

(Reuters)