ABIDJAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- France officially transferred control of its only military base in Cote d'Ivoire, the camp of the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA), to the West African nation's authorities on Thursday.

During an official ceremony at the military camp's parade ground, Cote d'Ivoire's Defense Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu signed the official handover document.

The ceremony also featured the symbolic raising of the Ivorian flag in place of the French flag, marking the official installation of the Ivorian army at the base, which was renamed Camp Thomas d'Aquin Ouattara in honor of the country's first army chief of staff.

"This act marks a new step in the friendship and strategic cooperation between our two nations," stated Ouattara. "The geopolitical changes and current security challenges on the continent should guide our joint willingness to promote shared security for sustainable regional stability."

Ouattara thanked France for "the support and trust shown in the process of strengthening the capabilities of the Ivorian armed forces."

He reiterated Cote d'Ivoire's commitment to continuing this "strategic" cooperation, indicating that the handover stems from the "political will" of both nations' leaders and is the result of "extensive consultations."

The handover, announced on De. 31 last year by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, is a result of a process initiated two years ago and part of France's broader efforts to reshape its military presence in Africa. In recent years, France has faced growing resistance to its military deployments, leading to forced withdrawals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad.

"The world is changing, and it is evident that our defense relationship should also evolve more towards future perspectives in light of the realities of threats, the complexities of the security landscape, rather than being based on a defense relationship inspired by the past," said Lecornu, emphasizing the importance of a military partnership adapted to regional security and stability issues.

"France is transforming its presence; France is not disappearing," he said, adding that about 100 French soldiers are expected to remain in Cote d'Ivoire for training missions.

The 43rd BIMA has been stationed in Cote d'Ivoire since 1978 under a defense agreement signed a year after the country's independence in 1960. Enditem

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