Chad has made a bold move by announcing the termination of its military cooperation agreement with its former colonial ruler, France.
The surprising declaration came mere hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot concluded a visit to the country.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah declared: “The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French Republic.”
This decision could potentially reshape France’s already waning military influence in Africa.
Chad has long been a pivotal player in France’s regional strategy, serving as a critical anchor for its military presence in the Sahel.
Currently, the French military’s footprint in Chad represents Paris’s last significant outpost in the region, following its expulsion from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
However, Koulamallah sought to differentiate Chad’s move from the outright estrangements seen in other Sahel nations.
“This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere,” he clarified, noting that around a thousand French troops still operate in Chad.
During a press briefing after President Mahamat Idriss Déby met with Barrot, Koulamallah described France as “an essential partner” but stressed that Chad’s sovereignty must now take precedence.
“France must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured, and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty,” he asserted, signaling a new chapter in the country’s relationship with its former colonizer.