Chad unties military knot with France

Chad has announced that it is terminating its defense cooperation pact with the former colonial power France.

The news was made on Thursday, hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot’s visit.

Experts asserts that French soldiers will consequentially have to depart the Central African nation.

According to Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, France is “an essential partner”.

But it “must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured, and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”, Koulamallah stated.

In the past, Chad has worked closely with the military forces of Western countries.

But in recent years, it has reportedly become closer to Russia.

The decision to end the agreement was updated in 2019.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision will allow the nation to rethink its strategic alliances.

Approximately 1,000 French soldiers and airplanes are presently stationed in Chad, the final Sahelian nation to receive French forces.

Over the past two years, military coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have compelled France to withdraw its soldiers.

Koulamallah did not specify when the French forces would leave.

He was giving a news briefing on Thursday, following a meeting between Barrot and President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who has pushed for deeper ties with Russia.

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Koulamallah stated on Facebook that “The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French republic”.

Deby served as an interim leader under military rule for three years.

Afterwards, he was inaugurated in as president in May.

Since a coup in the early 1990s, Idriss Deby, his father, had been in charge of Chad.

Russia’s Wagner Group paramilitary forces are present in the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, and Niger, all of which border landlocked Chad.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday, after 66 years of independence, Chad, a crucial Western ally in the conflict against armed groups in the region, sought to fully establish its sovereignty.

“In accordance with the terms of the accord, Chad will respect the modalities of the termination including the necessary deadlines, and will collaborate with French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition”, it stated.

In an interview with French state television on Thursday, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated that French troops should not be stationed in his nation.

He did not specify whether or when French troops would be asked to withdraw.

There are about 350 French soldiers stationed in Senegal.

Know more about Chad

Chad is a landlocked country located in Central Africa.

It is the fifth-largest country in Africa.

It covers an area of approximately 1,284,000 square kilometers.

Chad shares borders with Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west.

The country’s climate varies from tropical in the south to desert in the north.

This diverse climate supports a range of flora and fauna, making Chad a unique and fascinating country.

Chad’s geography has also played a significant role in shaping its history and culture.

Chad’s economy is primarily driven by agriculture, with cotton, cattle, and gum arabic being major exports.

The country is also rich in natural resources, including oil, uranium, and gold.

However, despite its natural wealth, Chad remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with a GDP per capita of around $630.

This disparity highlights the need for sustainable economic development and effective resource management.

Chad’s system of government

Chad has a presidential system, with the president serving as both head of state and head of government.

The current president is Mahamat Déby, who took power in 2021 following the death of his father, Idriss Déby.

Chad has a history of political instability, with numerous coups and rebellions having taken place since independence in 1960.

Chad has a diverse culture, with over 200 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages spoken.

The official languages are French and Arabic, while Islam and Christianity are the main religions.

Chad is known for its rich cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance, and art.

The country’s unique cultural identity is a reflection of its complex history and its position at the crossroads of Africa.

Chad has a long and complex history, with various empires and kingdoms having risen and fallen over the centuries.

The country was a German colony from 1900 to 1911, before being mandated to France by the League of Nations.

Chad gained independence from France in 1960.

Since then, the country has faced numerous challenges, including political instability, economic underdevelopment, and environmental degradation.

Despite these challenges, Chad remains a country with enormous potential and a rich cultural heritage.

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