France has begun its military withdrawal from Chad, flying out two Mirage 2000-D fighter jets stationed in the capital, N’Djamena. The departure comes weeks after Chad terminated its defense cooperation agreement with Paris, signaling a strategic shift for the Central African nation.
The jets, part of France’s 1,000-strong force in Chad, were sent back to a base in Nancy, eastern France, following a farewell ceremony attended by Chadian military officials. French military spokesman Col. Guillaume Vernet confirmed that discussions with Chadian authorities are ongoing to determine the timeline and scale of the broader troop withdrawal.
Chad’s government described the end of the defense pact as a “historic turning point,” aimed at redefining its strategic partnerships to align with national priorities. While authorities stressed the decision does not undermine the historical ties between the two nations, anti-French sentiment has been growing. Last week, hundreds of protesters marched in N’Djamena, chanting slogans like “Chad for us, France out!”
France’s exit from Chad is part of a broader regional trend, following its expulsion from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where tensions over military cooperation have risen. These countries, grappling with Islamist insurgencies, have pivoted towards Russia, which has bolstered its influence in the Sahel through mercenary deployments.
Chad, a former French colony that gained independence in 1960, has yet to announce a definitive timeline for the full withdrawal of French troops, leaving the future of their military partnership uncertain.