French warship arrives in Ivory Coast for training

One of France's largest warships currently deployed to the Gulf of Guinea on a mission to fight illegal fishing, drug trafficking and piracy arrived in Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan on Thursday. Le Tonnerre, meaning The Thunder in French is one of France's three Mistral class 22,000 ton and almost 200-metre long helicopter and amphibious vehicle carriers.
Only France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is bigger. It comes with a detachment of 300 troops, 60 vehicles and currently two helicopters aboard. Captain Guillaume Tandonnet, the Commander of Le Tonnerre said that as the French forces are less familiar with the Ivorian Coastal terrain, they are "delighted" to have the support of Ivorian soldiers and sailors.
The soldiers will join training with other French troops based in the region to learn from their Ivorian counterparts how to conduct operations and work in the lush terrain. Le Tonnerre is expected to stay in Ivory Coast until 11 November, according to a statement by the French military.