Chad cuts military agreement with France over Sudan dispute: report

December 3, 2024 (N’DJAMENA) – Chad’s decision to break off military cooperation with France stems from mounting tensions over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Jeune Afrique reports.

The sudden Chadian move, announced on November 29, 2024, followed a series of disagreements between the two countries regarding the Sudanese crisis.

Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno had previously expressed support for the continued presence of French troops in the country, citing their valuable airpower capabilities in defending against rebel incursions from Sudan and Libya.

However, the situation shifted following Déby Itno’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron during the summit of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie in Paris on October 4.

During the meeting, Macron raised concerns about the role of the United Arab Emirates in the Sudanese conflict, specifically its alleged support for Mahamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemeti. The UAE is accused of supplying weapons to the RSF through Chad. Macron urged Déby Itno to maintain neutrality in the Sudanese conflict, a suggestion the Chadian leader rebuffed, said Jeune Afrique.

Tensions further escalated when French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reiterated Macron’s call for Chadian neutrality during his visit to N’Djamena on November 28. Déby Itno considered this a form of lecturing and responded by terminating the military cooperation agreements.

Although evidence of Chad supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) regularly surfaces in videos and reports, the Chadian government in N’djamena has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Sudanese conflict.

According to the source, the termination of the agreements does not necessarily mean that French troops will be expelled from Chad. However, it is expected that the agreements will be renegotiated to better align with Chad’s interests. Déby Itno’s actions indicate his willingness to take radical decisions or even switch to other partners if necessary.

The French Foreign Ministry has acknowledged Chad’s decision but has not yet announced further steps.