PARIS — France has commenced the process of pulling its military presence from Chad, as evidenced on Tuesday with the departure of two Mirage fighter jets previously stationed in the country. This move comes in the wake of Chad’s decision to terminate its defense cooperation agreement with France last month. The announcement marks a significant shift for both nations, given Chad’s role as a central player in regional counterterrorism efforts and France’s considerable military footprint in the country.

Chad has historically been one of the last bastions for French military forces in Africa, particularly after the withdrawal of troops from neighboring nations like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Over recent years, these countries have increasingly leaned towards Russia, which has positioned mercenaries across the Sahel region, creating a shifting landscape in terms of international military alliances.

The French Mirage 2000-D fighter jets departed shortly after midday from a military base in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, following a farewell from the Chadian military officials. According to a French military spokesperson, Col. Guillaume Vernet, these jets are en route back to an air force base located in Nancy, in eastern France. Discussions continue with Chadian leaders regarding the timeline and method of withdrawing the rest of the 1,000 French troops still stationed in Chad, with uncertainty remaining about whether all will ultimately depart.

Chad’s Foreign Minister Koulamallah Abderaman has indicated that the French ground forces will begin a phased withdrawal over the next few weeks. The recent termination of the defense agreement was characterized by Chadian officials as a watershed moment for the country, which has been independent since 1960. This move, they assert, will allow Chad to reshape its strategic alliances according to its national objectives.

Despite the cancellation of the defense pact, Chadian authorities have emphasized that this decision does not undermine the historically rooted relations between the two nations. They expressed an intention to continue collaboration in other mutual interests. In a demonstration of public sentiment, hundreds of individuals gathered in N’Djamena last week, voicing their calls for the complete withdrawal of French military presence, chanting slogans such as “Chad for us, France out!” Many participants displayed signs proclaiming, “We do not want to see a single French person in Chad.”