Chad has announced the termination of its defence cooperation pact with France, signaling a shift in its strategic alliances and possibly requiring French troops to exit the country.
The Chadian foreign ministry stated that the decision reflects its aim to assert full sovereignty over 60 years post-independence. The agreement, revised in 2019, will now be replaced by redefined partnerships.
The move marks another setback for France’s waning influence in Africa, following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger that expelled French forces. Those nations have increasingly allied with Russia, a trend echoed by Chad’s closer ties to Moscow under President Mahamat Deby.
France, which currently has 1,000 troops and warplanes in Chad, received no prior warning of the decision. A French envoy recently suggested reducing troop deployments across the region, including in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast.
In a further blow, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye questioned the continued presence of French troops, though no immediate withdrawal was announced.
Despite ending the defence pact, Chad emphasized maintaining friendly relations with France. Earlier this year, Chad also ordered U.S. special forces to leave but has since reopened talks for their potential return.
This decision underscores the shifting geopolitical landscape in Africa as nations reassess traditional alliances with former colonial powers.
