Despite the removal of troops , Chad to remain a strategic partner of France. Senegal to redefine relationship with France.

Source: Pan-African News

Chad and Senegal to kick French troops out of their countries

Chad announced on Thursday evening, November 28, 2024, the end of the security and defense agreements with France. The announcement was made on the 66th anniversary of Chad’s independence from France. Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah posted on the ministry’s Facebook page that the withdrawal of the 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad must be done “according to the terms” and “within the time frame provided for in the defense agreement.” As mentioned by Actu Niger, Koulamallah said the “decision is the result of an in-depth analysis aimed at affirming the full and complete sovereignty of Chad, 66 years after the proclamation of its republic.” According to RT, the announcement was made just hours after Koulamallah’s French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot paid Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno and him a visit in the capital N’Djamena on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and the 600,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad. The redeployment of the French forces from Chad will mean that France will no longer have a military footprint in the Sahel since French troops of the Barkhane operations were previously expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Nonetheless, Koulamallah told AFP that Chad would not break off relations with France like its Sahelian counterparts because France is an “essential partner,” but Chad must “redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities.” Meanwhile, Le Nouvelle Tribune reports that Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye seems to be taking his country in the same direction. While Faye says the 350 French forces stationed in Senegal will eventually have to leave in the interests of national sovereignty, he is seeking a “renewed partnership” with its former colonizer because France has many businesses and citizens in Senegal.

Sources:

Chad: End of military cooperation with France

Sidwaya

Government of Chad Terminates Defense Cooperation Agreement With France: Foreign Ministry

Sputnik

Africa Chad ends defense cooperation with France

RT

Chad ends military cooperation with France Al Jazeera After Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Chad breaks its defense cooperation agreements with France

Le Temps

Chad terminates defense cooperation agreement signed with France

Le Pays Sovereignty:

Chad ends its defense cooperation with France Actu Niger France must withdraw its troops from Chad, according to Chadian diplomacy Actu Cameroun Chad ends a defense cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler AP Chad cuts military agreement with France

BBC Senegal’s sovereignty “does not accommodate” French military bases, according to President Faye Actu Niger France will have to close its bases in Senegal, says President Diomaye AFP After Niger, Mali and Niger, Senegal calls for the closure of French bases

Le Nouvelle Tribune Chad abrogates defense and security agreement with France

Africa News