Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby has defended his decision to sever military ties with France, stating at a Sunday press conference that the defence pact no longer addresses Chad’s security requirements.
The decision, which mandates the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African nation, reflects growing anti-French sentiment, particularly among civil society groups who argue the move is overdue.
Déby asserted that the nearly 65-year-old military ties with France have failed to address Chad’s escalating security issues, including terrorism and armed conflicts. Speaking on state television, he linked the decision to his May 23 inauguration pledge to conclude the three-year military transition. He committed to forging reciprocal relationships with nations that respect Chad’s independence and sovereignty and provide mutual assistance in times of crisis. He vowed to cut ties with nations acting as though Chad remains their colony.
The government first announced the termination of military ties with France last week, shortly after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s visit. Chad’s government reportedly informed Barrot that its military is robust enough to safeguard civilians and property.
The French foreign ministry acknowledged Chad’s decision on Friday without providing further comments.
Déby’s move has reignited debates over what many civil society and opposition groups view as France’s overbearing influence in several African nations, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Mamadou Doudet, coordinator of Chad’s Patriotic Movement, stated that dozens of civil society organisations and opposition parties met in N’Djamena on Monday to demand the departure of the approximately 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad.
Doudet criticised the presence of French troops, arguing that they failed to intervene last month when Boko Haram killed 40 Chadian soldiers at a military garrison in the Lake Chad region, which borders Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger.
Calls for the removal of French troops are not new. In November 2023, civil society groups demanded the expulsion of French forces stationed in Chad and those previously expelled from Niger by the end of that year. However, around 1,000 French troops remain in Chad.
The Concertation Group of Chad’s Political Actors (GCAP) condemned Déby’s decision on Monday, claiming Chad’s military is insufficiently equipped to handle the country’s numerous security threats. GCAP spokesperson Max Kemkoye accused Déby of making the decision unilaterally without consulting his government, though this claim has not been independently verified.
