Deby's decision to end the pact with France could force all French troops to leave after being stationed there over six decades since the country became independent. Chad ordered out the small contingent of U.S. forces based there this year.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby has said his decision to end cooperation agreements with the French military is part of a promise he made during his inauguration in May, 2024. In a televised address,

Deby stated that the agreement no longer served Chad's security or geopolitical interests. Despite over a decade of fighting a jihadist insurgency, support from French and U.S. troops has not succeeded in stabilizing the country.

Chad, a former African colony of France, has for decades been central to its military operations in Africa, but it is developing closer ties to Russia amid the NATO war with Russia in Ukraine.

In late November, both Senegal and Chad – independently of one another – moved to profoundly alter their longstanding relationships with the French military. Senegalese President Diomaye Bassirou Faye,

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby has ordered the withdrawal of French troops, citing that the decades-long defense pact no longer addresses Chad’s escalating security concerns, including terrorism.

President Mahamat Idriss Deby says decision to end military cooperation with Paris is ‘a sovereign act carefully thought out’ - Anadolu Ajansı

Chad’s government says it is ending a defense cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, to redefine the nation's sovereignty.

The decision requires France to withdraw its troops from the central African nation and echoes growing anti-French sentiment with civil society groups who say it is long overdue. Deby said military ties with France that have existed for close to 65 years are in no way helping to rescue Chad from what he calls growing security challenges,