Fri Nov 29 07:00:16 UTC 2024: ## Chad Ends Defence Agreement with France, Citing Sovereignty Concerns
**N’Djamena, Chad** – Chad has announced the termination of its defence cooperation agreement with France, marking a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy and the further retreat of French military presence from the Sahel region. The decision, announced Thursday by Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, follows a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and comes amid Chad’s growing ties with Russia.
Koulamallah described France as an “essential partner” but emphasized Chad’s desire to assert its sovereignty after 66 years of independence. He stated that Chad is “very jealous of its sovereignty,” highlighting the country’s maturation and independence. While not providing a specific withdrawal date for the approximately 1,000 French soldiers and warplanes currently stationed in Chad, the government affirmed its commitment to a “harmonious transition.”
This move leaves Chad as the last Sahel nation hosting French troops, following similar withdrawals from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in recent years due to military coups in those countries. The Chadian government’s statement cited a need to redefine its strategic partnerships, a decision that comes as Chad has increasingly collaborated with Russia. The country borders several nations where the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, operates.
The termination of the defence agreement, revised in 2019, reflects a broader trend in the Sahel region where several nations are reassessing their relationships with Western powers. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye also expressed concerns about the continued presence of French troops in his country, although he didn’t explicitly call for their departure. The approximately 350 French soldiers stationed in Senegal are now also under scrutiny. Chad’s decision underscores the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Sahel and the growing influence of Russia in the region.
First Piper 