Paris, 10 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) – French forces have begun to pull out of Chad after the collapse of a military agreement with its former Central African colony, the Defence Ministry in Paris reported on Tuesday.

French combat planes stationed in N'Djamena had been withdrawn, the ministry said. French media reported that three Mirage jets were involved.

The ministry said that arrangements for the withdrawal of other French military assets in the Sahel country would be agreed with the Chadian authorities. Until recently, there were around 1,000 French military personnel stationed in Chad.

France had stationed military aircraft in Chad virtually continuously since independence in 1960. They were used for training and to prevent military coups.

Chad terminated its military cooperation agreement with France at the end of November, saying that while amicable ties with France were not in question, military bases were not needed.

Chad lies at the centre of a conflict zone. It shares borders to the east with Sudan, to the south with the Central African Republic, to the west with Niger and to the north with Libya – all countries that have seen recent conflict.

The country had been seen as the West's last reliable partner in the battle against Islamist terrorists operating in the region. In June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the country and promised military assistance.

Photo: MIA Archive