Chad: The definitive withdrawal of French troops marks a historic break with the past
Chad turns a historic page in its relations with France with the official handover of the historic base in N’Djamena on Wednesday, January 31. This solemn act follows the handover of the Faya-Largeau and Abéché bases, marking the beginning of the end of 125 years of French military presence on Chadian soil.
The operation, which began on December 10, followed a phased withdrawal process over two months, allowing for a smooth transition for Chad. The handover ceremony in N’Djamena brought together representatives from both Chadian and French authorities, symbolizing an important step in redefining the relationship between the two countries. President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno officially confirmed the permanent departure of French troops during the event, marking a clear break with a presence that had long shaped the security and military dynamics of the region.
The day before the ceremony, the last French military plane left the Adji Kossey base at 3:50 PM, definitively sealing France’s withdrawal from N’Djamena. This departure follows a strong political decision after Chad denounced the 1978 military cooperation agreements, revised in 2019, which President Déby had called “obsolete” as of December 1. However, he emphasized that this decision did not affect the overall relations with France but was limited solely to the military dimension of cooperation.
For the Chadian president, the goal now is to build a stronger, better-equipped army capable of independently facing security challenges. The withdrawal of French troops is part of a broader context of redefining French military influence in Africa, following similar withdrawals in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
This decision marks a major transformation in bilateral relations and paves the way for an independent security strategy for Chad, which seeks to strengthen its military capabilities in order to effectively address regional threats and ensure national sovereignty.
