By On April 29, 2025, a significant chapter in Chad’s history unfolded as President Mahamat Idriss Deby ordered the complete withdrawal of French troops from the Central African nation. This decision, which had been brewing since the termination of Chad’s defense pact with France in December 2024, marks the end of a 70-year French military presence that began with Chad’s independence in 1960.
The move is not just a symbolic gesture but a bold statement of intent—one that resonates across the African continent as nations increasingly challenge the lingering vestiges of colonial influence and seek to redefine their sovereignty in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
A Historical Burden: The French Legacy in Chad
France’s military presence in Chad dates back to the country’s independence from colonial rule in 1960. Initially stationed in N’Djamena to train Chad’s nascent military, French forces became a fixture in the nation’s defense architecture. Their role was most prominently felt between 1983 and 1984, when France deployed nearly 4,000 troops to repel a Libyan invasion and support Chad against rebel forces.
However, President Deby has argued that this was the last time French troops were genuinely useful to Chad’s security. Over the subsequent decades, their presence morphed into a symbol of neocolonial oversight, with France claiming a need to bolster Chad’s air force against persistent insurgencies—a justification that many Chadians, including Deby, have come to view with skepticism.
The French military footprint in Chad was part of a broader strategy in the Sahel, a region plagued by multifaceted crises, including jihadist insurgencies, intercommunal violence, and governance failures. Chad, alongside neighbors like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, became a key theater for France’s counterterrorism operations, most notably through Operation Barkhane, launched in 2014.
With approximately 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad as of 2024, the country was one of the last strongholds of French military influence in the Sahel—a region where France’s role has increasingly been questioned.
The Turning Tide: Chad’s Bold Move
The decision to expel French troops was not a sudden one. In November 2024, Chad announced the termination of its defense cooperation agreement with France, a move framed by the government as a necessary step to reassert national sovereignty and recalibrate its international relations. This decision came amid growing tensions over France’s historical and ongoing influence in Africa, a sentiment that has been echoed across the continent.
By April 29, 2025, when Deby issued the formal order for French troops to leave, the stage had already been set for a complete withdrawal, which was finalized by January 31, 2025, at a ceremony at the Adji Kossei Air Base in N’Djamena.
Deby’s remarks during the January ceremony were telling. He emphasized that Chad’s military was now ready to protect the nation from any destabilization attempts, signaling a newfound confidence in the country’s ability to stand on its own. This confidence, however, comes against a backdrop of persistent challenges.
The Sahel remains a volatile region, with jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara continuing to wreak havoc. A February 2025 report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies highlighted the ongoing violence in the Sahel, noting that despite over a decade of foreign military interventions—primarily by France and the United States—the region has seen little improvement in stability.
If anything, the presence of foreign troops has often exacerbated local resentments, fueling anti-Western sentiment and giving rise to alternative security partnerships, including with Russian mercenaries.
A Regional Movement: Africa’s Push for Independence
Chad’s expulsion of French troops is not an isolated event but part of a broader regional trend. In recent years, several African nations have taken steps to distance themselves from their former colonial rulers, particularly France. Senegal, under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, made a similar move in 2024, with Faye openly questioning the necessity of French troops in a sovereign nation.
Speaking ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre—where French forces killed hundreds of African riflemen in 1944 for demanding fair pay—Faye’s call for the withdrawal of French troops resonated deeply with a population eager to shed the remnants of colonial domination.
Similarly, countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have expelled French forces in recent years, often following military coups that brought to power leaders who sought alternative partnerships, including with Russia. The presence of Russian mercenaries in the Sahel, often in exchange for access to natural resources, has become a growing concern for Western powers.
Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted in 2024 that Deby’s decision to end the defense pact with France was driven by both a lack of trust in French leadership—particularly under President Emmanuel Macron—and growing anti-French sentiment within Chad.
This sentiment has been amplified on social media platforms like X, where users have celebrated Chad’s move as a step toward true independence. Posts like “Africa will once again rise!” and “It’s time for Africa to stand up” reflect a continent-wide yearning for self-determination.
The Failures of International Interventions
The expulsion of French troops from Chad also underscores the broader failure of international interventions in the Sahel. For over a decade, France, alongside the European Union and other multilateral partners, has sought to address the region’s multidimensional crisis through military means.
Operations like Barkhane, as well as EU initiatives such as the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) and the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP Sahel), were designed to train Sahelian forces and combat terrorism. Yet, as a report by the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik noted, these efforts have largely failed to address the complexity of the Sahelian context.
The crisis in the Sahel is not merely a security issue but a multifaceted one, involving governance failures, economic deprivation, and intercommunal tensions. Jihadist groups, while a significant threat, are just one part of a larger tapestry of actors that international interventions have often overlooked. The political rationale behind local grievances has been ignored, making it difficult to set clear objectives for military operations.
Moreover, the presence of foreign troops has often alienated local populations, who view them as an extension of colonial oppression rather than a solution to their problems. This resentment has been expressed in increasingly virulent ways, from street protests to online campaigns, as seen in the X threads celebrating Chad’s decision.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
As Chad navigates this new chapter, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The withdrawal of French troops leaves a security vacuum that the Chadian military must now fill—a daunting task given the persistent threat of jihadist insurgencies.
While Deby has expressed confidence in his forces, the reality on the ground remains precarious. The Sahel’s violence has spread beyond Chad’s borders, reaching the Liptako-Gourma region and even the northern parts of coastal West African countries.
Without a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of instability—such as poverty, governance failures, and climate change—military solutions alone are unlikely to bring lasting peace.
At the same time, Chad’s decision opens up opportunities for new partnerships and a reimagined approach to security. By diversifying its international relations, Chad can seek support from a broader range of actors, including regional powers and non-Western nations like China or Turkey, which have been expanding their influence in Africa.
The African Union and regional bodies like ECOWAS could also play a more prominent role in fostering cooperation among Sahelian states, addressing the crisis through a more localized lens rather than relying on external interventions.
A New Dawn for Africa?
Chad’s expulsion of French troops is a powerful symbol of Africa’s ongoing struggle for self-determination. It reflects a growing awareness among African leaders and citizens that true sovereignty cannot be achieved while foreign powers maintain a foothold on the continent. As more nations follow Chad’s lead—whether by expelling foreign troops, renegotiating exploitative economic agreements, or asserting control over their natural resources—the continent is poised for a transformative shift.
The X posts reacting to Deby’s decision capture this sentiment vividly. From “Africa is healing” to “We must be independent,” the voices of ordinary Africans reveal a deep-seated desire for a future free from external domination. This is not just a rejection of France but a broader call for a new African renaissance—one where the continent’s destiny is shaped by its own people, on its own terms.
As I reflect on this moment, I am reminded of the words of Senegal’s President Faye, who asked, “As French people, do you envisage seeing us in your country with tanks or with military vehicles, Senegalese soldiers with Senegalese uniforms?” The question is rhetorical, but its implications are profound. For too long, Africa has been a theater for foreign powers to project their influence.
Chad’s decision to expel French troops is a step toward dismantling that legacy, paving the way for a future where African nations can stand tall, united, and truly sovereign. The winds of change are blowing across the continent, and they carry with them the promise of a new dawn.
1 Comment