N’DJAMENA, Chad — On Thursday, France officially transferred its final military installation in Chad to the local government, a significant development occurring two months after Chad had severed its defense cooperation pact with Paris.
This transition marks a noteworthy phase for Chad, which has historically played a crucial role in counterterrorism efforts within the region. It was one of the few nations where France maintained a substantial military presence in the aftermath of recent withdrawals from other West African nations such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Over recent years, France has faced increased hostility from these countries after years of collaborating with them to combat Islamist militant groups. Consequently, these nations are now gravitating towards closer ties with Russia, evidenced by the rising deployment of Russian mercenaries across the Sahel region, an area just below the Sahara Desert.
On Thursday, Chad’s military confirmed the handover of the Sergent Adji Kossei air base located in the capital, N’Djamena. Earlier in the year, France had already relinquished two additional military bases – located in Faya in the northern part of Chad and in Abeche in the east – in late December and early January, effectively rounding out its military departure from the country which had approximately 1,000 troops stationed there.
When the Chadian government announced the termination of its defense cooperation agreement with France last November, it was portrayed as a pivotal moment for the country, which achieved independence in 1960. Officials indicated that this decision would allow Chad to re-evaluate its strategic alliances in a way that aligns with its national interests and priorities.
Despite the cessation of the defense pact, Chadian authorities clarified that this move does not undermine the historical ties the two nations share. They expressed a desire to maintain cooperative relations with France in other areas of mutual significance. Moreover, in December, similar decisions regarding the exit of French troops were reported by Senegal and Ivory Coast, coinciding with France’s strategic reassessment aimed at significantly reducing its long-term military footprint in Africa.
