The French forces’ shooting and military exercise camp in Lomo-Nord was handed over to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on September 17.

Established in 1975, the military site had been a source of tension with local populations who denounced the lack of security. An incident occurred in 2022 when a live-fire exercise resulted in the death of a resident and numerous livestock. Firing has been suspended since then.

The authorities are working together with all parties with the goal of reopening the camp “for the good of the populations and the armed forces of Côte d’Ivoire,” said the prefect of the Toumodi department at the handover ceremony.

The French army’s withdrawal from this camp comes amidst a trend of French troops being pushed out of several countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.