Last Thursday, Chad’s government announced the termination of its defence cooperation pact with France, a decision that could lead to the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African country.
In his first public comments since last week’s announcement, Chad’s President Mahamat Deby explained that the decision to end the country’s military pact with France was driven by its growing irrelevance, according to Reuters.
Deby stated that the agreement no longer served Chad’s security or geopolitical interests. Despite over a decade of fighting a jihadist insurgency, support from French and U.S. troops has not succeeded in stabilizing the country.
Until recently, the West viewed Chad as a key partner in the fight against jihadists in the Sahel. Militants linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State operate in the Lake Chad region, which borders Chad to the southwest.
Deby’s decision to terminate the military pact with France could lead to the withdrawal of all French troops, who have been stationed in Chad for over six decades since the country gained independence.
This year, Chad also expelled a small contingent of U.S. forces. Deby explained that the agreement had failed to offer meaningful military support amidst ongoing challenges, including terrorist attacks. However, he emphasized that Chad remains open to cooperating with all partners, including France.
France has already been forced to withdraw its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups and rising anti-French sentiment in those countries. The U.S. is facing a similar situation in the region.
Last summer, Niger ordered the closure of a new, multimillion-dollar U.S. spy base, which had supported military operations in the Sahel, after relations with Washington deteriorated.
