France completes withdrawal of soldiers from Chad

France has officially handed over its second military base in Chad as part of an agreement to withdraw its forces from the country.

The base in Abéché, located in eastern Chad, was formally transferred to Chadian authorities on Saturday in a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Issaka Malloua Djamouss, as reported by AFP.

The withdrawal follows Chad’s abrupt decision in November to end military cooperation with its former colonial ruler.

French troops began leaving the country in December, with a complete withdrawal deadline set for January 31.

“Today… marks the handover of the Abeche base,” Defence Minister Issaka Djamouss said during an official ceremony. He called it a key step “leading to the final and total withdrawal of this army in our country.”

Djamouss added that the January 31 deadline for France to remove forces for good was “imperative”, “irreversible” and “non-negotiable”.

Approximately 100 French troops departed the Abéché base on Saturday, with equipment convoys leaving the site on Friday.

This follows the handover of the Faya base in northern Chad in mid-December, as well as the departure of fighter jets and 120 soldiers earlier in the month.

French troops have been stationed in Chad since the country gained independence in 1960, providing military training and air support.

This support proved crucial in halting rebel movements that sought to seize power on multiple occasions.

At its peak, France maintained 1,000 personnel in Chad, making it the last Sahel nation to host French troops after withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

“Partnerships evolve but the friendship remains between our two nations, as does the solidarity between two sovereign nations that will continue to move forward side by side as they always have,” French embassy representative Fabien Talon said at the event.

Chad, among the world’s poorest countries, had been a key part of France’s military presence in the Sahel region. However, the military authorities in Chad, like their counterparts in other Sahel countries, have sought to strengthen ties with Russia.

Talks between Chad and Moscow have centered on enhancing economic cooperation, but no significant agreements have yet been finalized.

The withdrawal marks a shift in Chad’s geopolitical stance. President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has described the military agreement with France as outdated and misaligned with the current political and strategic realities.

Deby, who came to power in 2021 following his father’s death in combat with rebels, was formally elected in May 2023, concluding a three-year political transition.

France’s departure signals the end of its anti-jihadist Barkhane operation in the Sahel, where it once deployed over 5,000 troops.