“Chad is ending a defense cooperation agreement with former colonial power France, which could lead to the withdrawal of French troops from the central African country.”, — write: www.ukrinform.ua
Chad has said it wants to fully assert its sovereignty after 64 years of independence from France.
“The Government of the Republic of Chad informs the national and international public of its decision to terminate the defense agreement signed with the French Republic,” Chadian Foreign Minister Abderamaan Koulamall said in a Facebook statement on Thursday.
He stressed that “this is not a break in relations with France, like Niger, etc.”
The termination of the military cooperation agreement will allow the country, which is an important ally of the West in the fight against Islamic militants in the region, to review its strategic partnership. About 1,000 French military personnel are stationed in Chad.
The announcement of the termination of the agreement came on Thursday, just hours after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited the country. France has yet to comment on Chad’s decision.
During the last two years, France was forced to withdraw its troops from three West African countries – Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – in which military coups took place. In some cases, these countries tried to establish closer ties with China and Russia.
Read also: IN Chadand attacked a military base, killing about 40 soldiers In another blow to France’s position in Africa, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomayeur Faye told French television on Thursday that it was not appropriate for French troops to maintain a presence in his country.
As Ukrinform reported, in April, amid rapprochement with Russia, Chad called on the US to withdraw its troops from its military base.
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