Chad's President Field Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby says this week’s departure of the last French troops from the central African state signals a new dawn for Chad

France has handed over its final military post in Chad to local authorities, two months after the former French colony in central Africa terminated its defense cooperation deal with Paris. Chad has been a vital counterterrorism force in the region, and it was one of the last nations in which France maintained a significant military presence.

The Central African nation announced the end of bilateral military pact with Paris last November - Anadolu Ajansı

The French army has handed over its last base in Chad in a military ceremony in the capital N'Djamena, marking the end of French military presence in the country. Once a key link in France's military presence in Africa,

Analysis - Niger has suspended its participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force, and Chad has threatened to withdraw.

President Mahamat Idriss Deby on Friday welcomed the "definitive and complete departure" of French forces from Chad which marks the end of France's last foothold in the wider jihadist-hit Sahel region.

France handed over its last military base in Chad to local authorities on Thursday, two months after the former French colony in central Africa broke off its defense cooperation agreement with Paris.

France officially ended its decades-long military presence in Chad, its last stronghold in the West African region. The shift is part of a larger movement to push France out of the area.

Chad’s authorities demanded that France withdraw all its troops from the country’s territory by January 31, 2025

French forces have withdrawn from Chad after 65 years, although France maintains that military cooperation will continue. French forces have left Chad after 65 years of almost continuous presence in the West African country.

The French army has handed over its last base in Chad in a military ceremony in the capital N'Djamena, the general staffs of both countries announced Thursday. The central African country in late November abruptly ended military cooperation with its former colonial ruler,

As countries continue to pivot from France, Paris too has begun implementing a new Africa strategy launched in late 2024: There are plans to permanently reduce troop presence in countries that have not yet kicked out French forces, like Gabon, where there are still about 300 French soldiers.