DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Chad’s government said it was terminating a defense cooperation deal with France to redefine the country’s sovereignty over its former colonial ruler.
The decision marks a historic turning point since the Central African nation gained independence more than 60 years ago, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement Thursday.
It said the decision to terminate the agreement would allow Chad to redefine its strategic partnerships in line with national priorities.
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There was no immediate response from the French government.
Chad was one of the last countries in the region where the French maintained a large military presence after being expelled from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years following years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional forces. Those countries have moved closer to Russia, which has deployed mercenaries in the Sahel, the vast expanse below the Sahara.
Chad’s interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, seized power after his father, who ruled the country for more than 30 years, was killed in the fight against rebels in 2021. Last year, the government announced that it would extend the eighteen-month transition period for another two years. which led to protests across the country.
Analysts say Deby has been suspicious of France for some time, and the decision creates an opportunity for other countries, especially Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
“Deby has sought to diversify its security partnerships away from exclusive deals. He does not trust Macron… He also cannot ignore widespread anti-French sentiment,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali.
France has about 1,000 troops in the region, and the statement did not specify when they would have to leave.
Chad said the decision in no way questions the countries’ historical ties and seeks to maintain relations in other areas of common interest.
