Chad ends defense cooperation with France

The announcement follows a visit to N’Djamena by the French foreign minister to discuss bilateral relations

Chad has announced that it is terminating its defense cooperation agreement with France in a move that could result in the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African country.

Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah shared an official statement on the ministry’s Facebook page on Thursday.

“The government of the Republic of Chad informs the national and international community of its decision to end the accord in the field of defense signed with the French Republic on the 5th of September 2019, aimed at strengthening security and defence cooperation between the two countries,” it said.

The announcement followed a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to N’Djamena on Wednesday – his first since taking office in September. While Barrot’s discussions with Chadian officials focused on strengthening bilateral relations and providing support for the 600,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad, he did not address the defense cooperation agreement in his public remarks. 

According to RFI, the Chadian minister said France remains a vital partner. However, following the meeting, Minister Koulamallah noted that “France must now consider that Chad has grown and matured.”

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Chad’s decision aligns with a broader trend among former French colonies in Africa, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have recently ended military partnerships with Paris. Many of these nations have sought alternative alliances, including forging closer ties with Russia, to address security challenges.

In June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Chad to discuss trade, economic cooperation, and strategic plans outlined by President Vladimir Putin and Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Deby during a January meeting in Moscow.

Chadian political analyst Evariste N’Garlem Tolde previously told RT that the French military presence in Chad had coincided with an uptick in terrorist activities, questioning its effectiveness in enhancing the country’s security.

France, meanwhile, has been scaling back its military footprint in Africa. According to AFP, troop numbers in West and Central Africa are expected to decline to approximately 600, with reductions in Gabon and Chad. The Chadian contingent is projected to drop from 1,000 to 300 soldiers. 

READ MORE: Chad threatens to withdraw from key African security mission

This development also follows recent tensions with the US regarding military operations in Chad. In September, N’Djamena denied authorizing the redeployment of US troops after earlier demanding the withdrawal of American personnel.

Meanwhile, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated in an interview with Le Monde on Thursday that “there will soon be no more French troops in Senegal.” France currently has 350 soldiers stationed in the West African country but plans to reduce the contingent to 100 as part of a broader military reconfiguration. The president did not specify a timeline for the withdrawal.