Chad Announces Termination of Military Agreement with France

Chad has announced the termination of military agreement with France, signaling a shift in the country’s foreign policy and raising questions about France’s diminishing influence in Africa’s volatile Sahel region. The decision, made by Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, is seen as a bold step towards asserting Chad’s sovereignty amid growing regional tensions.

“We must assert our full sovereignty,” Koulamallah declared, emphasizing the need for Chad to chart its own course in international relations. The announcement came shortly after a meeting between Koulamallah and French Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who had been in N’Djamena to meet with Chad’s President Mahamat Deby. The timing of the move has raised eyebrows, particularly given Chad’s strategic role in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel.

Chad, which has long been a crucial ally of Western powers in counterterrorism operations in West Africa, currently hosts around 1,000 French troops. These forces provide intelligence and logistical support to Chadian military operations from their bases, including in the capital, N’Djamena. The termination of the agreement marks a break in the long-standing defense partnership that has existed since France, Chad’s former colonial ruler, signed a revised military accord with the country in 2019.

This decision is part of a broader shift in the region. Chad is the latest in a growing list of nations in Central and West Africa—such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—to sever or scale back security agreements with France. In recent years, these countries have increasingly turned to Russia for military and diplomatic support, reflecting a significant reorientation of alliances in the face of rising regional instability and dissatisfaction with Western influence.

However, Koulamallah was quick to clarify that Chad’s move was not a “break with France” like those seen in Niger or Mali. He stressed that France remains an “essential partner” in many areas, but that Chad must “redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities.”

Also Read: France Admits to 1944 Massacre as Senegal’s Faye Hints at Ending French Military Base

In Related news, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called for the closure of all French military bases in Senegal, arguing that their presence is incompatible with the country’s national sovereignty. Speaking to AFP on Thursday, November 28, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, where French troops killed Senegalese soldiers in 1944.

“Historically, France enslaved, colonized, and stayed here. Obviously, when you reverse the roles a little, you will have a hard time conceiving that another army—be it from China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country—could have a military base in France,” he said, hinting at the possible removal of French troops stationed in Senegal.

Despite the end of the defense pact, Chadian authorities emphasized that the decision would not negatively impact other aspects of the bilateral relationship with France, suggesting that diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries will continue in other domains.