Chad has decided to terminate its longstanding military cooperation agreement with France.
This decision follows a growing alignment with Russia among nations in the Sahel region.
The announcement came after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot’s visit to Chad, where he met with President Mahamat Idriss Deby.
Chad’s government expressed the need to redefine its alliances and asserted its independence after decades of partnership with its former colonial ruler.
The agreement, last revised in 2019, had allowed France to station around 1,000 troops and military equipment in Chad, making it a key ally in combating regional security threats.
However, recent years have seen France withdraw from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso due to political shifts, including military coups.
Chad’s leadership has sought closer ties with Russia while emphasizing its determination to shape its future without external dominance.
The government assured cooperation with France to ensure an orderly withdrawal, though no specific timeline has been provided.
