Chad and France appear to be rebuilding military ties less than two years after N’Djamena ended a decades-long defence partnership with Paris, amid growing security challenges in the Central African country.
Chad terminated its defence cooperation agreement with France at the end of 2024 after 65 years of military partnership, leading to the withdrawal of French forces from the country.
Before the agreement ended, France had about 1,000 troops stationed in Chad, providing intelligence and logistical support to the Chadian military.
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The Chadian government said the decision was necessary for the country to assert its full sovereignty.
However, Chad has since faced difficulties diversifying its military partnerships while confronting security threats, including the continued presence of Boko Haram around Lake Chad and the MPRD rebel group in Moyen Chari Province.
For France, renewed military cooperation with Chad could provide a strategic foothold for projecting influence across Central Africa and the Sahel.
The development could, however, strain Chad’s relations with neighbouring countries and potentially complicate President Mahamat Idriss Déby’s anti-colonial message, particularly among younger citizens.
Africanews
