N’Djamena: Chad’s government announced on Thursday that it has terminated its defence cooperation agreement with France, a move that could lead to the withdrawal of French troops stationed in the Central African country.
In an official statement, Chad’s foreign ministry emphasized that the decision reflects the nation’s desire to assert its full sovereignty after more than six decades of independence. The move ends a defence pact with France that was revised in 2019 and aims to provide Chad the flexibility to redefine its strategic partnerships moving forward.
Historically, Chad has been a key ally for Western nations in combating Islamic militants in the region. However, in recent years, it has gradually strengthened ties with Russia. This decision signals a continued shift away from French influence, following the withdrawal of French forces from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where military juntas came to power through coups. These juntas have turned to Russia for support, with mercenaries now deployed across the Sahel region and increasing political and military cooperation with Chad’s President Mahamat Déby.
Chad’s foreign ministry statement clarified that the country would respect the terms of the agreement’s termination, including adhering to the necessary deadlines and collaborating with French authorities for a smooth transition.
The French foreign ministry has yet to comment on the decision. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Chad’s border with Sudan on Thursday, though there were no signs that Paris had been informed in advance of Chad’s decision. This comes on the heels of a report submitted by a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron, which included proposals for reducing France’s military presence in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast—countries where France has maintained a strong military presence for decades.
Currently, France has around 1,000 troops, along with warplanes, stationed in Chad. The move also follows remarks from Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who stated that it was no longer appropriate for French troops to remain in Senegal. While Faye did not specify when or if the troops would be asked to leave, he indicated that Paris would be informed first. Approximately 350 French troops are based in Senegal.
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Despite these developments, Chad’s foreign ministry reaffirmed that the decision to end its defence cooperation with France would not affect the friendly relations between the two nations.
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Earlier this year, Chad also ordered a small contingent of U.S. special operations forces to leave the country. In September, the U.S. confirmed it was in talks to bring the forces back. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment regarding its current military presence in Chad.
