France willing to bolster ties with Chad as Chadian leader ends visit to Russia

General Marc Olivier, a top commander of the French army announced Thursday January 25 France’s willingness to strengthen ties with Chad as he met Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the central African country’s top diplomat, in N’Djamena.

The two sides addressed ways to bolster cooperation that they believe will solidify the historical ties between the two nations and strengthen their collaboration in strategic areas, such as regional security, the fight against terrorism, and the stabilization of conflict-affected areas, local media Alwihda Info reports.

Chad is home to French military bases housing tens of hundreds of French troops. However anti-French sentiment recently arose and a number of Chadian political figures and activists have called for the withdrawal of the French troops after a Chadian soldier was killed by a French soldier.

General Marc Olivier’s visit came as Chad’s transitional leader Mahamat Idriss Deby wrapped up a several-day visit to Russia, where he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin ways of bolstering ties with Moscow.

France and its western allies have been wary of Russia’s growing presence in Sub-Saharan Africa.