France completes military withdrawal from Chad, marking end of presence in Sahel region

France has officially ended its military presence in Chad, completing the handover of its last base in the country in a ceremony held in the capital, N'Djamena.

This marks the conclusion of France's long-standing military operations in the Sahel region, following the forced withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

The handover of the Kossei base to the Chadian army was the final step in France’s withdrawal from Chad, a decision aligned with the wishes of the Chadian government. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesman for the French Armed Forces, confirmed that the base, along with two other strategic sites, was transferred in accordance with agreements between the two nations. “The Kossei camp was handed over today to the Chadian army,” said Vernet.

The withdrawal began in late December 2023, when French troops exited their northern Faya-Largeau base on December 26, followed by the evacuation of their Abeche base on January 11. Chadian authorities had set a firm deadline of January 31 for the completion of the French withdrawal, calling the timeline "non-negotiable."

The decision to end military cooperation came in the wake of a broader geopolitical shift. Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who has been in power since 2021, stated that the military cooperation agreements with France had become “completely obsolete,” citing new political and geostrategic realities.

For decades, Chad had served as a central hub for France's military activities in Africa. French soldiers and aircraft had been stationed in the country since its independence in 1960, providing training to the Chadian military and supporting anti-jihadist operations. France's presence was especially significant after the withdrawal of troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, following a series of military coups that saw these nations shift their alliances towards Russia.

At its peak, France’s military presence in the Sahel included over 5,000 troops, under the framework of Operation Barkhane, aimed at combatting Islamist insurgencies in the region. However, the operation formally ended in November 2022.

French President Emmanuel Macron caused a stir in a New Year’s address, criticizing African nations for failing to express gratitude for France’s decade-long commitment to fighting terrorism in the Sahel. Meanwhile, France is in talks with Senegal about the withdrawal of its forces from the country by the end of 2025. Additionally, France is reducing its military footprint in Ivory Coast and Gabon, in line with a restructuring of its defence strategy in West and Central Africa.

Following the withdrawal from Chad and other Sahel countries, France is focusing on its military presence in Djibouti, where a base hosting 1,500 troops is being developed to serve as a launchpad for future operations across Africa.

By Vafa Guliyeva