Two months after Chad terminated its defence agreement with France, the French military has officially handed over its last remaining base in the country, the Kossei base in N’Djamena.
Although Chad initiated the decision to end the pact, the head of the French Armed Forces’ Africa Command indicated that the withdrawal was also partly a French choice.
Pascal Ianni, head of the French Armed Forces’ Africa Command, stated, “The transfer of the (Adji) Kossei base today marks a new stage. It is part of France’s broader decision to end permanent military bases in Central and West Africa.”
He emphasized that this shift is necessary to adapt to global and African geopolitical changes, adding, “We are reaffirming our partnerships in a dynamic Africa, where the youth represent a promising future. We must engage differently.”
This handover follows the earlier transfer of two other French military bases in Chad. The country’s army chief welcomed the end of military ties with Paris.
Chadian Army Chief of Staff, Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud, expressed gratitude, stating, “I thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs for helping us achieve this vision. Today, I can announce that the French army’s mission here has concluded, and the Chadian army is fully prepared to assume its role.”
Prior to the termination of the agreement, France maintained approximately 1,000 troops in Chad.
This withdrawal aligns with a broader trend in the region, where French forces have also been expelled from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamist insurgents alongside local troops.
