Chad has unexpectedly terminated its defense agreement with France, signaling a significant shift in its foreign policy.
The announcement came shortly after a meeting between Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah and his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in N’Djamena. Despite the meeting reportedly proceeding without tension, Koulamallah declared:
“After 66 years since the independence of the Republic of Chad, it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and to redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities.”
Calling it a “historic turning point,” he stated that French troops, currently numbering around 1,000 in the country, will need to leave. This move follows similar demands from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military coups prompted France to withdraw its forces.
Meanwhile, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has also called for the closure of French military bases in his country. He highlighted France’s admission of responsibility for the 1944 massacre of Senegalese soldiers, just ahead of its 80th anniversary commemoration.
“Senegal is an independent country; it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye asserted.
Both Chad and Senegal emphasized that their decisions are not a complete break with France but reflect evolving priorities. These developments occur as Russia aims to expand its influence in Africa amid ongoing political upheavals.
France’s foreign ministry has not yet issued a response.
