In a ceremony held on Thursday, Paris officially handed over the military enclave to the command of the Ivorian army. Only a small group of French advisers will remain for a short time for training and support missions.

Some 1,000 French soldiers were stationed in Port-Bouet, ostensibly to help fight Islamist groups.

In his New Year’s message to the nation, President Alassane Ouattara announced the definitive withdrawal of the French forces stationed in Ivory Coast, which, he said, marks a new stage in the country’s military and political sovereignty.

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