France concludes military withdrawal from Chad's Abeche base

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Jan 2025 17:58
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Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah previously stated in an interview with Le Monde that France should remove its military contingent, stressing the need for full sovereignty.

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The French forces officially hand over the military base in Abeche to the Chadian authorities (@sputnik_africa)

French troops have officially vacated the Abeche military base in eastern Chad, according to a report by Alwihda Info on Saturday. The withdrawal follows Chad's decision to end its defense agreement with France in late November 2024.

The handover ceremony for the base was attended by Chadian Defense Minister Issakha Maloua Djamous, along with military and civilian leaders. General Chahane Issakha Acheikh, the Chadian armed forces' communications director, confirmed the completion of the transfer.

#France continues military withdrawal from #Chad as cooperation agreements end.

The French Army released footage of the ongoing withdrawal process. The complete departure is scheduled for January 31. pic.twitter.com/g7gkIJdnrS
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) January 5, 2025

Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah previously stated in an interview with Le Monde that France should remove its military contingent, stressing the need for full sovereignty. Reports from Jeune Afrique indicated that the rift between the two nations stemmed from differing views on the conflict in Sudan.

🇫🇷🇹🇩 The French forces officially hand over the military base in Abeche to the Chadian authorities

The handover ceremony, presided over by the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Issakha Maloua Djamous, took place on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/K9WknXlPvx
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) January 11, 2025

This withdrawal comes amid a broader decline in France's military presence across Africa. In December, the first group of 120 French soldiers departed Chad, and France handed over the Faya military base in the north at the end of 2024. Earlier, France was also compelled to leave Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after requests from their governments.

While these nations are now led by coup-installed governments, many of the new leaders enjoy significant popular support, reflecting widespread public opposition to the presence of Western powers like the US and Europe, while being more welcoming to Russian influence in the region.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye added to the growing criticism of French military involvement, stating that the presence of French bases in Senegal is "incompatible with national sovereignty."