President Mahamat Idriss Deby of Chad has assured that his country is not seeking to replace France with another foreign ally after announcing an end to military cooperation with its former colonial ruler.
“Chad is in no way seeking to replace one power with another, much less intending to change masters,” Deby told reporters on Sunday, days after scrapping a defence accord that had allowed French troops to operate in the region.
Deby described the agreement as obsolete and misaligned with Chad’s current political and strategic realities. The decision, he explained, aims to refocus Chad’s partnership with France on areas that will have a direct and positive impact on its people.
The move comes after France’s military withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger due to growing anti-French sentiment and the rise of pro-Moscow leaders in the Sahel region.
Chad, like some other African nations, has explored closer ties with Russia, though talks on economic cooperation have yet to yield significant outcomes. The nation borders multiple countries that host Wagner Group paramilitary forces, but Deby emphasized that Chad remains committed to playing its part in peace and security initiatives for Africa.
Chad, a landlocked central African country, faces threats from militant groups such as Boko Haram. The removal of France’s presence marks the end of its military footprint in the Sahel but also signals Chad’s intent to assert more independent control over its defence strategy.
The decision could reshape foreign relations in the region as Chad navigates complex security challenges and geopolitical shifts.
