Omanghana
Chad and France are gradually rebuilding military cooperation less than two years after N’Djamena ended its defense agreement with Paris and ordered French troops to leave the country.
The emerging arrangement represents a significant change in relations between the two countries. Instead of restoring France’s former network of permanent bases and large troop deployments, discussions are focused on a smaller and more flexible partnership controlled by the Chadian government.
Chad announced the termination of its defense cooperation agreement with France in November 2024, describing the decision as necessary to strengthen its sovereignty and redefine its international partnerships.
Approximately 1,000 French troops subsequently withdrew, with France handing over its final military base in N’Djamena in January 2025. The departure ended decades of continuous French military presence in the Central African country.
Following the withdrawal, Chad explored closer security relations with several alternative partners, including Russia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates. However, reports indicate that these options encountered political, financial and operational difficulties.
Chadian officials reportedly became cautious about deeper cooperation with Russia after observing the continued expansion of militant violence in neighboring Mali despite the deployment of Moscow-backed Africa Corps personnel.
Türkiye’s advanced military drones, including the ANKA-S and Aksungur models, were also considered as possible solutions to Chad’s surveillance and air-support needs. However, the cost of acquiring, operating and maintaining the systems reportedly limited progress.
Relations with the United Arab Emirates also became more complicated amid allegations that Chadian territory and infrastructure were being used to support Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. The UAE has previously denied accusations that it supplies weapons to the paramilitary organization.
These difficulties coincided with growing security pressure inside and around Chad. Armed groups remain active in the Lake Chad Basin, while the war in neighboring Sudan has created additional instability along Chad’s eastern border and brought large numbers of refugees into the country.
Diplomatic efforts to repair relations with France accelerated after Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in January 2026. A small number of French military personnel reportedly returned to N’Djamena in April to begin discussions and revive technical cooperation.
The proposed partnership is expected to prioritize intelligence sharing, military training and air-force cooperation. France could also help Chad strengthen surveillance, tactical air support and medical evacuation capabilities.
A final agreement has not yet been publicly announced, and the size of any future French deployment remains unclear. However, the discussions suggest that both governments are prepared to resume cooperation under substantially different conditions.
Chad is seeking a relationship that avoids the perception of foreign military control, while France is moving away from the large and permanent bases that previously shaped its presence in Africa.
Under the proposed model, French personnel would operate in limited numbers and provide specialized assistance based on requests from Chadian authorities. Strategic and operational decisions would remain under N’Djamena’s control.
The renewed engagement does not represent a full return to the previous arrangement. Instead, it reflects a pragmatic attempt by Chad to address urgent security gaps while preserving the sovereignty and political independence it emphasized when French forces were expelled.
Source: Omanghana
