NEW | 🇫🇷 🇩🇯 France has handed back 40% of its Héron naval base area to Djibouti, but its military presence in the country is staying. The handover took place on November 2, with French Ambassador Jérôme Bresson formally transferring the facilities to Djibouti's interim defence minister, Omar Abdi Said. The two sides also signed an agreement to finance new military infrastructure for Djiboutian forces. The return was written into the July 2024 defence treaty, which required France to relinquish 40% of the site's surface without compensation. The same agreement increased France's annual financial contribution for its military presence from €30 million to €85 million. France retains part of the naval base. It's an interesting example of how military basing arrangements are changing. Djibouti is recovering control over territory while Paris is paying considerably more to maintain its foothold.