Chadian President announced on Sunday, December 1st, that his country, the last nation in the Sahel to host French forces, has ended its military agreements with France without any intention of altering the terms of those agreements.
Three days after Chad’s surprising announcement on Thursday evening regarding the termination of its defense pact with France, President Mahamat Idriss Déby explained his decision in a televised speech on the evening of December 1st, marking the 34th anniversary of his father’s rise to power in 1990. The Chadian president stated that the agreement with Paris had become “outdated” and no longer brought “added value” in the face of current challenges. However, he made it clear that this was not a rejection of France, and that there would be no question of hosting other foreign troops.
“We call on our allies to support our approach and help strengthen Chad’s defense and security capabilities. The government has been instructed to continue implementing these decisions through diplomatic engagement with the French side. Chad is not, in any way, seeking to replace one power with another, and is certainly not adopting a master-change approach. Our country believes in its ability to defend its integrity and ensure the security of its citizens and property. Therefore, this decision is a carefully considered, fully assumed sovereign action aimed at strengthening our national independence and responding to the strong commitment made to the people of Chad.”
