France has initiated the withdrawal of its military presence from Chad, marking the end of a long-standing defense agreement with the Sahel nation. On Friday, a contingent of 120 French soldiers departed from N’Djamena, the capital, aboard an Airbus A330 Phoenix MRTT, the French Ministry of Defence announced.
This move comes ten days after French fighter aircraft vacated Chad, following N’Djamena’s decision last month to terminate military cooperation with its former colonial ruler. The departure, conducted under the watch of Chadian military officials, was described as reflecting the intensity of past security cooperation between the two nations.
Key Strategic Link Severed
Chad had been a critical hub for France’s military operations in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. Its decision to sever ties follows a string of military coups that forced French troops out of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. On November 28, Chad declared the defense agreement with Paris “completely obsolete” and no longer aligned with current political and geostrategic realities.
The withdrawal underscores shifting alliances in the region. Chad’s leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has expressed interest in strengthening ties with Moscow, though talks remain in early stages. Deby, however, rejected the notion of substituting France with another foreign power, stating, “This is not about a change of master.”
Military Assets in Transit
The French Ministry of Defence confirmed that military equipment, including vehicles from three French bases, will be repatriated to France via the Cameroonian port of Douala. Additional cargo is expected to leave Chad in the coming days aboard an Antonov 124 aircraft.
Historical Partnership Ends
French troops and fighter jets have been stationed in Chad since its independence in 1960, providing critical support during rebel offensives and assisting with military training. The elder Deby, former President Idriss Deby Itno, received French assistance to fend off insurgents in 2008 and 2019.
Chad was the last remaining Sahel nation hosting French forces, marking the end of France’s once extensive military footprint in the region. The withdrawal comes amid increasing scrutiny of French bases in Africa, with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently calling for their closure.
France Reorganizes Strategy
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from the French military base in Djibouti on Friday, acknowledged the changing dynamics. He emphasized France’s efforts to restructure its military relationships in Africa, envisioning expanded roles for other missions.
Chad’s announcement also caught French officials by surprise, coming hours after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. Despite the abrupt end to cooperation, Deby affirmed that Chad remains open to international partnerships, stating that the decision does not signal a rejection of diplomatic relations with France.
The election of Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in May concluded a three-year political transition following his father’s death in 2021, further reshaping the nation’s domestic and foreign policy landscape.
