Chad Ends Military Cooperation with France

Chad announced on Thursday, November 28, that it was ending its military cooperation agreement with France, just hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot concluded his visit to the country.

“The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French Republic,” Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah stated in a Facebook post.

Chad has played a key role in maintaining France’s military presence in Africa, serving as Paris’s final stronghold in the Sahel after French forces were compelled to withdraw from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

However, Koulamallah emphasized that this decision does not signify a total break in relations with France.

“This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere,” he said, noting that Chad still hosts approximately 1,000 French troops.

In a press briefing after a meeting between President Mahamat Idriss Deby and Barrot, Koulamallah highlighted France’s significance as a partner while also emphasizing Chad’s sovereignty.

“France must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured, and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty,” he said.

Barrot, who continued his travels to Ethiopia after visiting Chad, has yet to comment on the decision. Koulamallah described the announcement as a “historic turning point” for Chad, explaining that it followed “in-depth analysis.”

He assured that Chad would honor the terms of the agreement, including the notice period for termination, though no specific date was given for the withdrawal of French troops.

Since the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, in 2021, President Mahamat Idriss Deby has led Chad, which has been a crucial ally for France in combating regional insurgencies.

The late President Deby often depended on French military support to defend against rebel groups, particularly in 2008 and 2019.

Chad, a landlocked nation surrounded by Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, and Niger, faces ongoing security challenges from militant groups like Boko Haram. Its strategic location places it at the heart of regional instability.

While neighboring countries have increasingly hosted Russian Wagner Group paramilitary forces, President Deby has sought closer relations with Moscow. However, efforts to boost economic cooperation with Russia have not yet borne fruit. This development occurs amid a growing skepticism of the French military presence in Africa.