French troops will soon begin departing Ivory Coast, raising questions about what France's military presence in West Africa will look like, and how Ivory Coast will fill the security void.

Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest cocoa grower, dismissed two military officials and other local government personnel amid continuing efforts to curb smuggling of the crop.

The Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French troops from the country marking the latest move in a wave of African nations reevaluating their military ties with France

The Ivorian president will head to France on 15 January for personal reasons on a visit that coincides with his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço's state visit to Paris.