Chad is the next African country to end military cooperation with France

Chad’s government ended defense cooperation with France. This means that around a thousand French soldiers will have to leave the African country in the future. Chad is an important Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the region.

The government’s decision comes a few hours after French Foreign Minister Barrot visited Chad. Minister Barrot is now in Ethiopia and has yet to respond to the conclusion of the 2019 revised security and defense cooperation.

A statement said Chad wants to assert full sovereignty after 66 years of independence and that the country will work with Paris “to ensure a harmonious transition.”

There is more criticism in West Africa about the presence of a former colony in France. African countries want the West to see them as equal partners and treat them as such. The French army had to leave the Central African Republic in 2022 Malia year later this was also the case in Burkina Faso and after a coup Niger.

President Macron then said that Russia is expanding its influence in Africa by spreading propaganda against France. Russia provides mercenaries and weapons African countries who are therefore fighting terrorist groups within the national borders. Several jihadist groups with links to IS and al-Qaeda are active in the Sahel.