IN a symbolic move reflecting France’s evolving military role in Africa, the Port-Bouët military base in Côte d’Ivoire has officially been transferred to the Ivorian army. The handover, which took place on Thursday in the presence of French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and Ivorian Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, marks another phase in France’s military reconfiguration across the continent.
The base, previously home to the 43rd French Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA), will now be named General Thomas-d’Aquin-Ouattara in honour of Côte d’Ivoire’s first Chief of Staff. The French flag was lowered, signifying the official transition of control.
A new era of military cooperation
Although the decision to transfer the 230-hectare site was made in April 2023, the transition process only began a few weeks ago, allowing Ivorian forces to adapt the facility to their needs. Since January 20, a battalion of 90 Ivorian paratroopers has been stationed at the camp, benefiting from the enhanced space and infrastructure.
‘We have access to facilities that make training easier and help us maintain operational readiness,’ said Captain Fabrice Yoboué Kouamé, head of the paratrooper detachment.
During the ceremony, Lecornu and Ouattara also signed new military cooperation agreements, under which around 100 French soldiers will remain at the base to assist with training and joint exercises.
A military academy for information and communication systems was recently established at the camp, offering local training opportunities for Ivorian officers. ‘In the past, most of our officers had to go abroad for training, particularly in France,’ noted academy director Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Clément Gbalou. ‘Now, within a year or two, we will have officers ready for deployment directly from here.’
France’s military withdrawal from West Africa
The handover of Port-Bouët is part of a broader realignment of France’s military presence in Africa. Following increasing calls for French troop withdrawals across the region, France has ended its long-standing missions in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where Operation Barkhane officially concluded in 2022.
More recently, France withdrew its forces from Gabon last summer, Chad in January, and is preparing to scale down operations in Senegal, where 300 troops remain. Côte d’Ivoire’s military transition is seen as a model for future Franco-African military cooperation, with an emphasis on training rather than direct military intervention.
Colonel Ivert, who leads the French inter-army detachment in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the shift in strategy: ‘The core of our cooperation will be joint training, where everyone contributes. These opportunities are invaluable.’
As France continues to reassess its military commitments in Africa, the transfer of Port-Bouët signals a move towards a new phase of security cooperation—one led increasingly by African nations themselves.
