Chad’s government has officially ended its defense cooperation agreement with France, signaling a shift in military alliances and regional diplomacy.
Chad’s government is terminating a defense cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, in order to redefine the nation’s sovereignty.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah in a statement on Thursday, the decision represents a significant milestone since the Central African nation achieved independence over sixty years ago.
The statement indicated that terminating the agreement would enable Chad to realign its strategic partnerships according to national priorities.
France’s government did not provide an immediate response.
Chad was among the last countries in the area where France had a significant military presence, following its recent removal from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso after years of combat against Islamic extremists alongside regional forces. These nations have gradually aligned more closely with Russia, which has deployed mercenaries throughout the Sahel region—a vast expanse below the Sahara desert.
Chad’s interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, assumed power in 2021 following the death of his father, who had governed for over thirty years and was killed while battling rebels. In the previous year, the government declared a two-year extension to the initially planned 18-month transition period. This decision sparked widespread protests throughout Chad.
Analysts suggest that Deby has harbored distrust toward France for some time, and this decision opens the door for other countries, particularly Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali, noted that Deby has been looking to expand his security partnerships beyond exclusive agreements. He expressed distrust towards French President Emmanuel Macron and acknowledged he cannot overlook the prevalent anti-French sentiment.
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France has kept approximately 1,000 troops stationed in Chad without specifying a departure date.
Chad stated that the decision does not challenge the historical ties between the countries and expressed a desire to uphold relations in other areas of mutual interest.
France continues to maintain 350 troops in Senegal, a former colony that remains a security partner in the region. However, the French military presence there seems to be facing challenges.
In an interview with Le Monde, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal stated it was “obvious” that French soldiers would soon no longer be present on Senegalese soil. His remarks were published just hours after a declaration by Chadian authorities. Faye emphasized the need to redefine the relationship with their former colonizer.
“It’s not impossible to do things differently just because the French have been there since the slavery period,” he said.
