France Begins Troop Withdrawal from Chad Following End of Military Cooperation
France has begun withdrawing its soldiers from Chad, the French Ministry of Defense confirmed on Friday, following N’Djamena’s abrupt decision last month to end its longstanding military cooperation with Paris.
A contingent of 120 French soldiers departed from a military airport in the Chadian capital, marking a significant shift in the country’s military relations with its former colonial power.
The withdrawal, which took place 10 days after French fighter jets left Chad, signals the end of France’s military presence in the country. Chad had been a crucial partner in France’s Sahel operations, serving as the last stronghold for French troops in the region after the forced withdrawal of forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger due to a series of military coups.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the French Ministry of Defense announced that the soldiers had departed aboard an Airbus A330 Phoenix MRTT aircraft, headed for France. The departure was witnessed by Chadian military officials, underscoring the historical cooperation between the two nations in security matters.
France had around 1,000 military personnel in Chad, where French forces have been stationed almost continuously since the country gained independence in 1960. French military assets in Chad have provided vital support in the past, particularly in stopping rebels from seizing power.
Chad’s decision to end its military ties with France came unexpectedly just hours after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. The abrupt nature of the announcement caught the French delegation off guard.
The decision to sever military ties with France also followed statements from Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who suggested that France should close its military bases in the region. The move highlights the growing discontent in several African nations over France’s military presence, with countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger turning towards Russia for security support in recent years.
Chadian President General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who has been in power since May following his father’s death in 2021, described the defense agreement with France as “completely obsolete” and misaligned with current political and geostrategic realities. While Deby emphasized that the decision did not reflect a rejection of international cooperation or a severing of diplomatic ties with France, it underscored his desire to forge a path independent of foreign influence.
Chad, like several other Sahel nations, has looked to diversify its international alliances. Although Deby has sought closer ties with Moscow, efforts to strengthen economic cooperation with Russia have not yet yielded tangible results. Military equipment is expected to depart Chad in the coming days, with vehicles from three French bases being repatriated via Cameroon’s Douala port.
In response to the shifting dynamics in the region, French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from the French military base in Djibouti on Friday, outlined plans to reorganize France’s military presence, focusing on expanding its role in Djibouti following the departure from the Sahel.
The reorganization of French military operations in Africa follows the political transition in Chad and the end of the three-year interim period after the death of Idriss Deby Itno in 2021, a time when France played a pivotal role in supporting his regime during internal conflicts.
