France has pulled its fighter jets from Chad following a dispute with Chadian authorities, the French Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday. The jets, stationed in N’Djamena, were initially deployed at Chad’s request for military support.
The withdrawal follows Chad’s November 28 announcement ending military cooperation with France, reportedly due to disagreements over security and diplomatic issues. Tensions escalated after French forces allegedly declined to provide aerial support during an October attack by Boko Haram and comments by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urging Chad to delay its December elections.
Chad has since formed a commission to review and cancel agreements with France, sparking public protests in N’Djamena supporting the decision.
France’s military presence in Chad marked its last foothold in Africa’s Sahel region after withdrawing from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger due to strained relations with military-led governments in those countries. Anti-French sentiment has been growing in former colonies like Mali and Burkina Faso, where citizens have protested France’s continued influence.