France has officially ended its military presence in Chad, handing over its final base in N’Djamena in a ceremony marking the conclusion of decades-long defense cooperation between the two nations.
The move comes after Chad abruptly terminated its military agreements with France late last year, accelerating the French withdrawal from yet another African nation.
The Kossei military base in Chad’s capital was formally transferred to the Chadian armed forces, fulfilling the government’s demand that all French troops exit by January 31. “The Kossei camp was handed over today to the Chadian army,” confirmed Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesperson for the French armed forces in Paris.
Chadian military officials reiterated that the withdrawal aligned with “the wishes of the high authorities” in N’Djamena.
The departure of French troops from Chad is the latest development in a broader realignment of military alliances in West and Central Africa.
Once a strategic hub for France’s military presence in the region, Chad had been Paris’s last foothold in the Sahel following the expulsion of French forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The military governments in these countries have increasingly distanced themselves from France, instead pivoting toward closer ties with Russia.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno justified the withdrawal by arguing that the existing military arrangements had become “completely obsolete” in light of evolving “political and geostrategic realities.” His administration had set a strict deadline for the French withdrawal, insisting it was “non-negotiable.”
France Faces Declining Influence
French troops previously vacated bases in Faya-Largeau and Abeche in late December and mid-January, respectively, before completing their full withdrawal from Chad. This follows a pattern of waning French influence across Africa, where anti-French sentiment has surged in several former colonies.
France’s military footprint in the region has significantly diminished since the end of Operation Barkhane, its decade-long counterterrorism mission in the Sahel, which once included over 5,000 troops.
In a sign of broader challenges to French influence, Senegal is negotiating a similar withdrawal of French forces by 2025, while military bases in Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon are also being downsized.
Meanwhile, France is shifting its strategic focus to Djibouti, where a 1,500-strong force remains stationed, positioning the country as a launch point for future operations on the continent.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently expressed frustration over the lack of recognition for France’s past military efforts in Africa. In a New Year’s speech, he remarked that African nations had “forgot to say thank you” for France’s counterterrorism campaigns.
His comments have drawn criticism, reinforcing tensions between France and its former colonies.
As Chad moves forward without a French military presence, the country’s geopolitical direction remains uncertain. Whether this shift will bolster its sovereignty or expose new security vulnerabilities remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: France’s role in Africa is rapidly changing.
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