Alassane Ouattara, the President of Côte d’Ivoire, declared the coordinated and organized withdrawal of French military forces from the country. This decision aligns with France’s ongoing reduction of its military presence in West and Central Africa, where the number of soldiers is expected to decrease from approximately 2,200 to 600. The move comes amid rising anti-French sentiments in the region and follows similar withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after military coups.