France has started pulling out its military assets from Chad, the latest sign of its declining influence across its former African colonies. On Tuesday, two Mirage fighter jets arrived in France from N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, marking the initial phase of the recall process. The withdrawal of French troops from N’Djamena follows Chad’s decision to end the decades-long military cooperation between the two countries. Despite this, the Central African country remains open to collaboration in other areas. The move comes amid growing anti-French sentiment and a wave of military coups in the region, leading to the expulsion of French troops from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. France’s withdrawal ends its direct military operations in the Sahel, where Islamist militancy remains a pressing issue. A timetable for the full drawdown is still being finalized. In the meantime, Chad is pivoting towards new partners like the UAE and Russia.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
