Chad has announced that it’s ending its military cooperation with France, in a move that’s being described as a “historic turning point”. This decision was made public just hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited Chad.
Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, explained that this move doesn’t mean they’re breaking ties with France entirely, but rather that Chad has “grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”.
This development is significant because Chad is the last Sahel country to host French troops. The country has been led by President Mahamat Idriss Deby since 2021, and has relied on French military support in the past to fend off rebel offensives.
It’s worth noting that Chad’s decision comes after Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently asked France to close its military bases in Senegal.
Source: Vanguard
