France Transfers Another Military Base in Chad Amid Troop Withdrawal Agreement
France has officially handed over its second military base in Chad as part of a broader agreement to withdraw its forces from the country. The base located in Abéché, in eastern Chad, was transferred to Chadian officials on Saturday during a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Issaka Malloua Djamouss, according to reports from AFP.
This transfer comes in the wake of Chad’s abrupt decision in November to terminate military cooperation with its former colonial ruler. French troops began their withdrawal from the country in December, with a complete exit deadline established for January 31.
“Today… marks the handover of the Abéché base,” Defence Minister Djamouss stated during the ceremonial proceedings. He described the transfer as a crucial step towards “the final and total withdrawal of this army from our country.” Djamouss emphasized that the January 31 deadline for France to pull out its military forces is “imperative,” “irreversible,” and “non-negotiable.”
On the day of the handover, around 100 French soldiers left the Abéché base, accompanied by equipment convoys that departed the site the previous day. This handover follows the earlier transfer of the Faya base in northern Chad in mid-December and the withdrawal of fighter jets and 120 troops earlier in that month.
French troops have maintained a presence in Chad since the nation’s independence in 1960, primarily offering military training and air support. This assistance has been instrumental in stifling rebel movements that have attempted to seize power on various occasions. At its height, French military personnel numbered around 1,000 in Chad, making it the last country in the Sahel to host French forces after recent evacuations from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
A representative from the French embassy, Fabien Talon, reaffirmed the enduring ties between the two nations during the ceremony, stating, “Partnerships evolve, but the friendship remains between our two nations, as does the solidarity between two sovereign nations that will continue to advance side by side as they always have.”
Chad, one of the world’s poorest nations, has been a vital component of France’s military strategy in the Sahel region. However, the military leadership in Chad, similar to those in other Sahel countries, has been pursuing stronger relations with Russia. Discussions between Chad and Moscow have focused on boosting economic cooperation; however, no substantial agreements have yet been reached.
This withdrawal marks a notable shift in Chad’s geopolitical orientation. President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has characterized the military agreement with France as outdated and misaligned with contemporary political and strategic contexts. Deby, who took power in 2021 after the death of his father in combat against rebels, was formally elected in May 2023, concluding a three-year political transition.
France’s exit signals the conclusion of its anti-jihadist Barkhane operation in the Sahel, where it had previously deployed over 5,000 troops.
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