France has commenced the withdrawal of its military forces from Chad, the Chadian Ministry of Armed Forces confirmed on Friday, following N’Djamena’s abrupt termination of military cooperation with its former colonial ruler last month.
A group of 120 French soldiers departed from N’Djamena’s military airport aboard an Airbus A330 Phoenix MRTT, bound for France, according to a statement released on Facebook. The move comes just 10 days after French fighter jets exited the country, marking the end of France’s military presence in Chad.
Chad had served as France’s last major military foothold in the Sahel after troops were expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following successive coups. However, Chad’s government announced on November 28 that it was terminating the defence agreement with France, which dates back to its independence in 1960.
While the French army, which maintained around 1,000 personnel in Chad, has not yet commented, the Chadian military emphasised that the orderly departure reflected the intensity of cooperation between the two countries in the field of security.
Chad’s decision to sever military ties with Paris came unexpectedly, shortly after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, whose delegation appeared unaware of the impending announcement.
Chad’s move mirrors the stance of other Sahel nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have turned towards Russia for security cooperation in recent years.
Chad’s leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has sought closer economic ties with Moscow, though talks have yet to produce concrete agreements. Deby has insisted that ending the defence pact with France does not signal “a rejection of international cooperation or a breakdown in diplomatic relations.”
Meanwhile, neighbouring Senegal has also indicated a desire for French troops to leave its territory, further underscoring the shifting geopolitical landscape in Africa’s Sahel region.
