Chad announces the termination of its defence cooperation agreements with France

 

Just hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Chad, his counterpart Abderaman Koulamallah issued a statement announcing the "end of defence cooperation signed with the French Republic."

With N24I-News correspondent in N'Djamena, Carol Tenorio

Chad is ending the defence cooperation agreement signed with France and revised in 2019. Without giving, for the moment, more details on what the termination of this agreement entails. The announcement was not made during the 24-hour visit of the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, but hours after his departure.

"Chad has grown and matured"

"The Government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to terminate the defence cooperation agreement signed with the French Republic," Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement posted on the ministry's official Facebook page.

The Chadian foreign minister believes that Chad wants to evolve, although France remains an essential partner, reports our correspondent in N'Djamena, Carol Valade. During his visit, Jean-Nöel Barrot did not address the subject. During the joint statement at the end of the meeting, his Chadian counterpart limited himself to saying that "France must now consider that Chad has grown and matured."

N'Djamena assures that the terms and conditions for the termination of the agreement will be respected, including the notice period. "The government wishes to stress that this decision in no way calls into question the historic relations and ties of friendship between the two nations," the ministry added in a statement, which hopes for "a harmonious transition" and remains "open to constructive dialogue to explore new forms of partnership."

Announcement made on November 28, the day of the proclamation of the Republic

Contacted by N24I-News, the head of Chadian diplomacy spoke of a "carefully thought-out" decision. The announcement was made in a very symbolic way on November 28, when the 66th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic in Chad was commemorated.

What does this statement imply? Is it a departure of all French soldiers from Chadian soil? The minister hinted that it could lead to the departure of the thousand French soldiers stationed in the country, according to the terms and within the timeframes provided for in the defence agreement.

Is this a call to review cooperation? For the moment, some questions remain unanswered: nothing was leaked at the end of the meeting of the same day between Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno and the head of French diplomacy. Neither side seemed to show signs of deterioration in relations. On the French side, there was no statement in the evening.

Historical codependency and a century of French military presence

Chad is leaving the door open to a "dialogue" to "explore new forms of partnership." This is a historic turning point in a long history of codependency marked by a century of French military presence in Chad: it is the country that has seen the largest number of French military operations on its territory.

It is also a new blow to French diplomacy, which has seen its army expelled from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in recent years. But this is a very political decision by the Chadian president, who is winning points with a public opinion largely unfavorable to the French presence. This is just one month before the legislative elections.