France has begun withdrawing its troops from Chad following N’Djamena’s abrupt decision to end its decades-long defense agreement with the former colonial power. An initial group of 120 French soldiers departed from the Central African country, marking a symbolic step in the breakdown of Franco-Chadian military ties. This move follows Chad’s November announcement that it was terminating the 1960 defense accord, which had defined military cooperation between the two nations for decades. The country had been France’s last stronghold in the Sahel region after withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger due to military coups and rising anti-French sentiment. Although Chad’s leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, emphasized that N’Djamena would maintain international cooperation with Paris, the country has sought closer ties with Russia. France’s departure signals a significant shift in its influence across Africa, highlighting a changing geopolitical landscape in the region.
SOURCE: LE MONDE