Ivory Coast has announced that French troops will withdraw from the West African nation, further reducing the military influence of the former colonial power in the region. In an end-of-year address, Ivory Coast's President, Alassane Ouattara, said the move was a reflection of the modernisation of the country's armed forces.

It is part of a larger trend of African countries pushing France to reduce its military presence in Africa. France has been forced to pull out of a number of West African nations-- including from Mali,