France will significantly reduce its military contingents in Gabon, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, such a decision was taken by the country’s President Emmanuel Macron in December, the process has already begun.
This was reported by the Monde newspaper, the Report reported.
It is noted that the process of reducing the number of military personnel at most of the French bases in these countries has already begun, but should accelerate this year.
According to the plans, the number of French troops in the capitals of Gabon, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire could be reduced to around a hundred in each of the three cities, and these troops would mainly fulfil support functions.
According to the newspaper, until recently there were 350 French troops each at bases in Libreville and Dakar, the capitals of Gabon and Senegal, and 950 in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire.
The number of French troops in these countries is planned to be changed from time to time depending on the “needs of partners” at a given time, the French President’s office told the newspaper.
At the same time, the number of French troops in Djibouti and Chad (1,500 soldiers in each country) will remain unchanged, the newspaper said.