Chad has announced the termination of its revised defense cooperation agreement with Paris, signed in 2019, effectively ending the permanent French military presence in the Sahel region.
Chad, the last country in the Sahel hosting French troops, has over 1,000 soldiers stationed there.
This decision coincides with a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to Chad, Ethiopia, and Senegal.
Previously, France withdrew its forces from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso at the request of those nations.
Recently, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso formed a new alliance in the Sahel and signed a mutual defense agreement, signaling the demise of the G5 Sahel group established by France in 2014.
In a statement signed by Foreign Minister and Government Spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah, the government declared, “This decision, made after careful analysis, marks a historic turning point after 66 years of Chad’s independence.”
Senegal: The Last Nail in the Coffin of French Presence in West Africa
Following Chad’s lead, Senegal is also taking steps against French military presence. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomai Faye stated in an interview with Agence France-Presse on Thursday that France must close its military bases in Senegal, asserting that their presence undermines the sovereignty of his nation.
France currently maintains a limited military presence in Senegal, estimated at around 500 soldiers, including personnel, trainers, and advisors. Prior to the recent elections, the French Ministry of Defense had promised to reduce this number to 260 troops by June.
After 64 years of independence from France, Faye emphasized that “French authorities need to consider establishing a partnership devoid of military presence, focused instead on a rich, fruitful, distinguished, and inclusive collaboration, similar to those we have with many other nations.”
These developments coincide with a notable rise in anti-French sentiment and deep-rooted anti-colonial feelings among the majority of the African public.
Such sentiment has been prominently reflected in regular protests in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger against the French presence in the region.
A Series of Setbacks and Loss of French Influence in Africa: What Are the Causes?
The departure of French forces from their former colonies has become inevitable, according to observers, due to France’s failures in the region, particularly in combating the increasingly influential terrorist groups in the Sahel.
Over the past decade, terrorist groups and organized crime syndicates have intensified their activities, posing significant challenges to efforts aimed at maintaining a French military presence in Africa; however, the outcomes have been counterproductive, or at least unsatisfactory.
In the last ten years, instability has prevailed, with escalating violence, terrorism, and organized crime leading to substantial losses in lives and property, further aggravating an already dire economic situation.
In addition to its security failures, Paris has not changed its economic approach toward its African former colonies, which continues to focus on extracting natural resources at minimal cost and effort while reserving the largest share of these countries’ markets for French products.
However, the erosion of French influence is primarily attributed to the emergence of competitive powers such as China, Russia, and Turkey, which have steadily increased their presence in Africa over the past two decades and present themselves as viable alternatives to the former colonizer.
Moreover, younger generations in former French colonies perceive French forces as merely exploiting natural resources for sale (including oil, gas, and uranium) rather than genuinely fighting terrorists, leading them to view new partners as preferable alternatives.
