In a decisive development, French fighter jets have permanently withdrawn from Chad’s military bases following a decision by N’Djamena to terminate its defense cooperation agreement with Paris.
On Tuesday, two French Mirage 2000-D jets, accompanied by a transport aircraft, departed Chad, marking the closure of France’s military presence in the country.
A French military source confirmed the withdrawal, stating, “The deployment of French fighter jets in Chad is no longer justified after the end of military cooperation between the two nations.”
Termination of a Long-Standing Defense Pact
This withdrawal follows Chad’s announcement on November 28 to terminate a 1960 defense agreement with France. Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abdel Rahman Koulamallah, declared that the government had decided to annul the defense treaty, citing sovereignty concerns.
As part of this decision, France is required to evacuate approximately 1,000 troops stationed in Chad, officially ending its long-standing military presence at the Kossei Air Base in N’Djamena.
A Broader Retreat Across Africa
The departure from Chad is the latest setback for France, which has faced a series of forced withdrawals from its former African allies, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These nations, now governed by military regimes with close ties to Russia, have rejected France’s presence in recent years.
Senegalese President Basseiro Djoumaye Faye also recently voiced opposition to French military bases, asserting they conflict with his country’s sovereignty.
Waning Influence
French newspaper Le Figaro described these developments as emblematic of the growing rift between France and its former African partners. The paper highlighted France’s dwindling military footprint in Africa, reduced to a few hundred troops in Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, and limited deployments in the Horn of Africa, where French forces now coexist with large U.S., Chinese, and Japanese military bases.
According to Le Figaro, the diminished French presence is a stark symbol of France’s waning influence and prestige across its former colonies, underscoring a dramatic shift in its geopolitical standing on the continent.
