France flies out 2 Mirage fighter jets from Chad to signal beginning of military withdrawal
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French Air Force mechanics maintain a Mirage 2000 at the Niamey base in Niger on June 5, 2021.
France began the process of withdrawing its military presence from Chad on Tuesday, marking the first step in the exit of its forces from the Central African country, which had recently ended its defense cooperation agreement with Paris. The French military withdrew two Mirage 2000-D fighter jets from a base in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, following a farewell from Chadian military officials. The jets were en route to a French air force base in Nancy, France. This move signals the start of a broader withdrawal of the approximately 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad.
French military spokesperson Colonel Guillaume Vernet confirmed that discussions with Chadian authorities were ongoing regarding the full withdrawal of the remaining troops, though the timeline and scope of the exit remain uncertain. Negotiations are focused on determining whether all the French forces will depart or if a smaller contingent will stay behind. This withdrawal follows Chad’s announcement last month that it was ending its defense cooperation agreement with France, a significant shift for the country.
Chad’s decision to sever the defense ties with France is seen as a historic turning point for the nation, which gained independence from France in 1960. The government has emphasized that this move is intended to allow Chad to redefine its strategic partnerships based on national interests. This step comes amid a broader shift in the region, where several countries in the Sahel have moved away from France, with growing anti-French sentiment. In particular, countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have expelled French troops after years of joint efforts to combat Islamic extremism. In these nations, Russian influence has been on the rise, particularly with the presence of Russian mercenaries in the Sahel.
Chad had been one of the last countries in the region to host a significant French military presence. France has maintained around 1,000 troops in Chad, largely due to the country’s role in counterterrorism efforts across the region. However, with Chad’s decision to end its defense pact, the future of these forces is in question. While Chadian authorities have stated that the termination of the agreement does not alter the historic ties between the two nations, they have made it clear that they wish to explore new forms of cooperation that are more in line with Chad’s current priorities.
The decision to expel French forces has been met with mixed reactions within Chad. Last week, hundreds of Chadians took to the streets of N’Djamena in protest against the continued French military presence. Demonstrators chanted slogans like “Chad for us, France out!” and carried banners expressing their desire for a complete withdrawal of French personnel. This display of public sentiment highlights the growing anti-French feeling that has taken root in the country, particularly after years of French military involvement in the region.
In recent years, many African nations have increasingly questioned the role of former colonial powers like France in their security affairs. The withdrawal from Chad reflects broader shifts in African geopolitics, where countries are increasingly looking for alternative partners and sources of military support. This is particularly evident in the Sahel region, where Russian influence has been growing through military contracts and the presence of private military companies like the Wagner Group. Many governments in the region, frustrated with the perceived ineffectiveness of France’s military interventions, have sought out these new partnerships in the hope of improving their security situation.
As France begins its military pullout from Chad, the country will face the challenge of redefining its strategic and defense partnerships. While Chad has emphasized that its decision does not sever all ties with France, it marks a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy. The end of the defense cooperation agreement has opened the door for Chad to seek new partners, and how these relationships evolve will likely have significant implications for the future of the region’s security landscape. The withdrawal of French forces from Chad is not only a reflection of Chad’s desire for greater independence but also part of a larger trend of changing international dynamics in Africa’s Sahel region.
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