The end of France’s military presence in Chad has commenced with the departure of fighter jets from Kossei airbase in N’Djamena. At 12:30 GMT on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, two Mirage 2000D fighter jets and a tanker aircraft took off, marking a significant step in the phased withdrawal of French military forces from the Sahel region.
France has officially started pulling back its military forces from Chad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chad confirmed this development, highlighting the permanent departure of French fighter jets, including Mirage aircraft and transport planes. This marks the first phase of the withdrawal process agreed upon by both French and Chadian authorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that following the departure of the fighter jets, the gradual relocation of French ground forces will proceed in the coming weeks. The ministry also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing Chad’s defense and security capabilities through partnerships based on equality, transparency, and mutual respect.
Ending Defense Cooperation
This move follows Chad’s recent decision to terminate its defense cooperation agreement with France. On November 28, Chad announced the end of its defense pact with Paris, and a day later, it declared the cancellation of its security and defense cooperation agreements with France. Previously, Chad hosted approximately 2,000 French military personnel. Last October, some French troops arrived in Chad after being withdrawn from neighboring Nigér following their Government request.
The French newspaper Le Monde described this decision as an unexpected “slap in the face for Paris,” noting that Chad was the last stronghold of French military presence in West Africa. This withdrawal echoes similar movements by France from Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where anti-French sentiment and military coups have significantly altered the political landscape.
The announcement came after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited Chad and was told that Chad’s military is strong enough to protect civilians and their property, according to government officials.
Ongoing French Presence
Despite the withdrawal of fighter jets, France still maintains around 1,000 troops in Chad. However, the timeline for the complete withdrawal of French forces has not been finalized, and terms and conditions of the withdrawal, including whether any French troops will remain, are yet to be agreed upon.
On Tuesday, the first Mirage warplanes returned to their base in eastern France. French Army spokesperson Colonel Guillaume Vernet confirmed that the departure of the warplanes marks the beginning of the repatriation of military equipment. “It marks the beginning of the return of French equipment stationed in N’Djamena,” Vernet stated. He added that further details on the withdrawal process would be negotiated in the coming weeks.
The Mirage 2000 is a multirole fighter jet developed by Dassault Aviation in the 1970s. The D (Diversified) variant is an updated version of the airframe with two seats. Based on the Mirage 2000N (Nuclear), which was the main nuclear strike platform of the French Air Force until 2018, the Mirage 2000D was designed for long-range precision strikes using conventional weapons. As for the nuclear role, it has since been taken over by the Rafale, another Dassault aircraft.
In Chad, the Mirage 2000s were based near N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, as part of France’s Barkhane counter-terrorism force in the Sahel. The warplanes protected Chadian borders from incursion especially from Libyan insurgents.
Chad’s Army spokesman, Chanane Acheikh, confirmed the departure of the French warplanes and assured the public that they would be kept informed throughout the withdrawal process “until the definitive departure of the (French) forces.”
Chad has cooperated closely with Western nations’ military forces in the past, but it has moved closer to Russia in recent years.
The military juntas have since turned to Russia, which has mercenaries deployed across the Sahel region – a band of countries stretching from Africa’s northwest to northeast coasts – and has been fostering closer ties with Chad’s President Mahamat Deby.
