France Hands Over Abéché Military Base to Chad As Withdrawal Nears Completion

The Abéché military base in eastern Chad was officially handed over to the Chadian army on Saturday as France withdrew troops.

The transfer follows the evacuation of the Faya-Largeau base in the north and the departure of French fighter planes from the Adji Kossey air base in the capital, N’Djamena. The complete withdrawal of French forces is expected by January 31, 2025.

Chadian Minister of the Armed Forces Issakha Maloua Djamous attended the handover in Abéché, Chad’s third-largest city after N’Djamena and Moundou.

France’s departure from this base is another step in the shift from long-standing military cooperation agreements between the two countries.

The Faya-Largeau base was handed over on December 26. The final withdrawal stage will involve transferring the Adji Kossey air base, Chad’s most prominent French military installation.

In November 2024, Chad’s government announced the termination of its 1966 defence cooperation agreement with France and a 2019 security partnership. The decision reflects a push for increased sovereignty and control over national security.

After 66 years of independence of the Republic of Chad, it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah stated in a public address.

The withdrawal from Chad follows France’s military exits from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in recent years, driven by shifting political dynamics and a need for increased sovereignty.

On the same day, Chad announced its decision, Senegal’s newly elected President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, also called for removing French military bases from his country, citing the need to preserve national sovereignty.

Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country, Faye said.

Chad’s decision to sever military ties with France comes amid broader regional developments. In July 2023, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen regional security and political cooperation.

According to reports, Chadian politicians have urged President Mahamat Idriss Déby to consider joining the bloc, signalling potential shifts in the country’s alliances.

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