France has initiated the withdrawal of its troops from Chad following the termination of a defense cooperation agreement. Two Mirage 2000D fighter jets departed from the capital, N'Djamena, marking a significant reduction of French military presence in the region.
The unexpected decision by Chad to end the agreement came after France's withdrawal from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, concluding decades of direct military operations against Islamist militants in the Sahel. Currently, around 1,000 French soldiers remain in Chad, and a timeline for further military reduction is being coordinated with the Chadian government.
According to the French military, the withdrawal commenced with the departure of two fighter jets stationed in N'Djamena, following Chad's announcement two weeks prior to end the defense pact with Paris. The terms and conditions of the withdrawal remain undecided, and it is unclear whether any French forces will remain in the Central African nation. The first jets returned to their base in eastern France on Tuesday. Colonel Guillaume Vernier, a military spokesperson, stated, 'This marks the beginning of the return of French equipment stationed in N'Djamena.'
Reports indicate that two Mirage 2000D aircraft took off accompanied by a refueling plane around 12:30 GMT, with a third aircraft also preparing for departure. A source noted that 'the presence of this squadron is no longer justified following the collapse of the defense agreement.' Additionally, the French military has decided to close the section designated for its combat aircraft at the Kossi base in N'Djamena.
On November 28, the Chadian government, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in the region, unexpectedly terminated the defense cooperation agreement with Paris, surprising French officials. Chadian Foreign Minister Abderrahmane Khamis stated that the government was informing both the national and international public of its decision to cancel the agreement with France.
France has already withdrawn its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups in those West African nations and rising anti-French sentiment. The departure from Chad will conclude decades of French military presence in the Sahel and end direct military operations against Islamist militants in the area.
Although France has about 1,000 soldiers remaining in Chad, a timeline for further military reduction is expected to take several weeks as both countries finalize the arrangements. There are no indications that Paris received prior notice regarding Chad's decision to terminate its defense cooperation, despite a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron presenting proposals last month on how to reduce France's military presence in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast.