Chadian President General Mahamat Idriss Déby arrives before a dinner with several heads of state and government and leaders of international organizations at the Élysée Palace,
Chad broke its defense cooperation agreement with France because it was “obsolete” and no longer corresponded to its security and geopolitical imperatives, declared President Idriss Déby.
Having been battling a jihadist insurgency for more than a decade, Chad benefited from the support of French and American troops deployed in the Sahel.
The last French military personnel could be forced to leave the country after the planned departure of American troops in April. France has had a military presence in Chad since the country's independence in 1960.
According to President Déby, who spoke publicly on the subject for the first time, the agreement with France no longer brought added military value to Chad.
“This agreement was signed at another time, with different actors on both sides and in a completely different context. Over time, this agreement has become obsolete,” he explained on Sunday evening during a speech.
“This rupture is part of our desire to build a more autonomous Chadian army, more committed and more responsible in the defense of the homeland,” he added.
He stressed, however, that Chad remained open to cooperation with all partners, including France.
“This decision was not taken lightly,” assured the Chadian president. “It is the result of in-depth reflection and careful evaluation. It responds to a commitment made to the Chadian people.”
In recent years, France has been forced to withdraw its soldiers from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following several military coups in West Africa and growing anti-French sentiment.
This withdrawal of Western troops from Africa contrasts with the growing influence of Russia on the continent, in particular with the presence of Russian mercenaries supporting the military governments of the Sahel against jihadist groups.
(Mahamat Ramadane report, written by Bate Felix and Jessica Donati, French version Etienne Breban, edited by Sophie Louet)
