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See Reasons Protests Erupt in Chad Against French Military Presence

Published by Tope Fakinlede on December 7th, 2024.

See Reasons Protests Erupt in Chad Against French Military Presence

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, on Friday, demanding the withdrawal of French military forces from the country. The protest comes a week after Chad announced it would terminate a defense cooperation agreement with France, signaling a shift in its foreign policy to prioritize national interests.

Chanting slogans such as “Chad for us, France out!” and carrying placards that read, “We do not want to see a single French person in Chad,” the protesters voiced their anger over France’s ongoing military presence. Last week, Chad declared it would end the agreement, which had allowed France to station approximately 1,000 troops in the country. However, the government did not specify a timeline for the departure of these forces.

Some protesters marched towards a military airbase where French soldiers are stationed, while others gathered in front of the French embassy, which was placed under heightened security by the Chadian army. “We no longer want the French presence in Chad,” said Dr. Hissein Massar, former Minister of Public Health. “This protest will stop once the French leave,” he added.

France has historically maintained a significant military presence in Chad, one of the few remaining countries in the Sahel where French troops are still stationed. This follows France’s withdrawal from other Sahelian nations such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where it had been involved in fighting Islamist militants alongside local forces. However, those countries have increasingly turned towards Russia, with Russian mercenaries now operating across the region.

Chad’s current interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, took power in 2021 after the death of his father, who had ruled the country for over 30 years. The government recently extended the country’s transition period by two years, prompting widespread protests.

Despite the decision to end the military agreement, Chad emphasized that this does not undermine its historical relationship with France. The government expressed its desire to continue cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.