Chad ends military cooperation with France

Chad announced on Thursday, November 28, that it was terminating its military cooperation agreement with France, hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot concluded a 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 been a critical link in France’s military presence in Africa, representing Paris’s last stronghold in the Sahel following the forced withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Despite the announcement, Koulamallah clarified that the decision does not represent a complete rupture 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.

During a press briefing following a meeting between President Mahamat Idriss Deby and Barrot, Koulamallah emphasized France’s importance as a partner while underscoring 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 traveled to Ethiopia after his visit to Chad, has not commented on the decision. The announcement marks what Koulamallah described as a “historic turning point” for Chad. He noted that the decision followed “in-depth analysis” and that Chad would adhere to the terms of the agreement, including respecting the notice period for termination. However, no date was provided for the withdrawal of French troops.

Chad, led by President Deby since 2021 after the death of his father Idriss Deby Itno, has been a key partner for France in countering regional insurgencies. The elder Deby frequently relied on French military assistance to repel rebel forces, notably in 2008 and 2019.

The landlocked nation faces ongoing security threats from Boko Haram and other militant groups. Chad’s location, bordering Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, and Niger, places it at the center of regional instability. Neighboring countries have increasingly hosted Russian Wagner paramilitary forces, and Deby has sought closer ties with Moscow, though negotiations to strengthen economic cooperation with Russia have not yet yielded results. 

The development comes amidst growing skepticism of French military presence in Africa.