Chad cuts military agreement with France
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Chad has announced it is ending a significant defense cooperation agreement with France, a decision that highlights growing shifts in the country’s foreign policy and raises questions about the diminishing influence of Paris in Africa’s troubled Sahel region. This move also comes at a time when many African nations are reevaluating their ties with Western powers.
Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah explained that the termination of the military agreement is part of the country’s efforts to “assert its full sovereignty.” This announcement came just hours after Koulamallah’s French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, met with Chad’s President Mahamat Deby, which underscores the dramatic shift in relations between the two nations.
Chad has been a crucial ally for the West in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel, a vast region in West Africa plagued by insurgent groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS. However, before Chad’s May presidential election, the country’s authorities ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed there, signaling a growing distance from its traditional Western partners.
Currently, France maintains about 1,000 troops in Chad, providing intelligence, logistical support, and military assistance to the Chadian armed forces. These troops are stationed at several bases, including in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena. This military presence was formalized through a revised security agreement signed between France and Chad in 2019, which was intended to strengthen their defense and counterterrorism cooperation. But with this new announcement, the future of this partnership is now uncertain.
Chad’s decision is part of a broader trend across the Sahel region. In recent years, other countries in Central and West Africa, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, have severed their defense agreements with France and other Western nations, often shifting their allegiances towards Russia. These countries, which once relied heavily on France for security assistance, have increasingly turned to Moscow for military support, including through private military contractors such as the Wagner Group.
Despite the termination of the defense agreement, Foreign Minister Koulamallah sought to clarify that Chad’s decision was not a total break with France. He emphasized that Chad does not intend to follow the path of countries like Niger, where relations with France have soured significantly. “This is not a break with France, like in Niger or elsewhere,” Koulamallah told the AFP news agency.
He further explained that while Chad continues to regard France as an “essential partner,” it is now time for the country to “redefine its strategic partnerships based on national priorities.” This reflects Chad’s desire to chart a more independent course in its foreign policy, particularly when it comes to security and military relations. Koulamallah also assured that the decision to sever the military agreement would not negatively impact Chad’s broader relations with France. Other areas of cooperation, such as economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties, are expected to remain unaffected.
This decision is significant, not only for Chad but also for France, as it comes amid a broader decline in French influence in Africa. France’s historical ties with many African countries have been increasingly questioned in recent years, especially as former colonies seek greater autonomy and reconsider their international alliances. The decision by Chad to reassess its defense agreements is a clear signal that Western influence in the region is being challenged, with countries looking for alternatives and diversifying their partnerships.
Chad’s move comes after a period of heightened political instability in the Sahel, where military coups and growing Islamist insurgencies have sparked widespread unrest. France has been heavily involved in military operations in the region, including its flagship “Barkhane” mission, which aimed to combat extremist groups. However, these operations have faced criticism and increasing opposition from local populations, who have grown frustrated with the continuing violence and the perceived ineffectiveness of foreign military interventions.
Chad’s decision to cut its military agreement with France could set a precedent for other nations in the region that are considering whether to continue their partnerships with former colonial powers. As countries like Mali and Burkina Faso have already demonstrated, turning towards other powers such as Russia is increasingly seen as a viable alternative to Western support. This shift reflects a broader trend of countries in Africa asserting their sovereignty and seeking new avenues for cooperation based on their national interests.
As Chad moves forward with this new strategy, the global community will be closely watching how this shift in alliances plays out in the Sahel region, particularly with regard to security, military support, and counterterrorism efforts. France will now have to reevaluate its approach to the region as it faces the challenge of maintaining influence amidst a growing trend of discontent and realignment in Africa.
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