Chad Ends Military Pact with France; Senegal Calls for French Troop Withdrawal

Chad Ends Defense Pact with France Amid Calls for Sovereignty

Chad has unexpectedly terminated its defense cooperation agreement with France, marking a major shift in the nation’s foreign policy. The surprising announcement came shortly after a meeting in N’Djamena between Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah and his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot.

“After 66 years of independence, Chad must now assert full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnerships in line with national priorities,” Koulamallah declared in a statement issued late Thursday. He described the decision as a “historic turning point” following thorough deliberation.

The French government is yet to comment on the matter, but this move will require the departure of approximately 1,000 French troops stationed in the landlocked Central African country. Chad’s decision follows a growing trend in the region, where former French colonies such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have all demanded France withdraw its forces in the wake of military coups.

Adding to the challenges for France’s defense strategy in Africa, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye also called for French troops to leave his country on the same day. He emphasized that Senegal, as a sovereign and independent nation, could no longer justify the presence of foreign military bases on its soil.

Faye’s comments coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent acknowledgment of France’s role in the 1944 massacre of Senegalese soldiers, as Senegal prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of that historical atrocity.

Both Chad and Senegal, however, pointed out that their decisions were not meant to sever ties with France entirely. Instead, they underscored the differences between their situations and those in countries like Niger, where political turmoil has strained relations with Paris.

This development comes amid heightened geopolitical tension across Africa, as global powers such as Russia seek to expand their influence on the continent. The shifting dynamics underscore the increasing demand for African countries to assert their sovereignty and reevaluate their alliances.

France’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comments on these developments.