France faces a significant challenge to its influence in West and Central Africa as Chad, Senegal and most recently also Ivory Coast have announced the end to traditional military cooperation with their former colonial master, experts say, adding that this would unravel France’s remaining logistics and military footprint in the region. In recent months, six […]
Tag: Chad
Chad: vote counting underway in contentious elections amid opposition boycott
Polls closed Sunday (29 December) in Chad’s legislative, provincial and local elections after three years of military rule, but were boycotted by the opposition that accuses authorities of fraud and of failing to oversee a credible electoral process. After Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno won a disputed presidential election in May, his government is now presenting […]
Guinea opposition, civil society groups push junta gov’t for swift return to democratic path
Guinea’s opposition and civil society groups, united under the Forces Vives platform, have announced that they will no longer recognize the authority of the country’s military junta after 31 December, when a promised return to constitutional rule was meant to take place. While this deadline as the transition period was initially agreed with the West […]
France transfers its first military base to Chadian authorities as influence in Africa wanes
France on Thursday (26 December) officially handed over its first military base to Chad as part of an ongoing withdrawal of French forces from the central African country, which comes after N’Djamena abruptly ended military cooperation with its former colonial power last month. Chad’s military chief of staff said the military base at Faya-Largeau in […]
Chad’s journalists protest online media ban, opposition calls for boycott of 29 Dec. election
The online media journalists in Chad are voicing dissatisfaction over the authorities’ refusal to respect the Supreme Court’s decision for a ban on the broadcasting of audiovisual content to be lifted while opposition is calling for a boycott of the country’s legislative and local elections scheduled for 29 December. With Chad’s legislative and local elections […]
EU to supply drones to Mauritania, Chad
The European Union has announced plans to bolster the operational capabilities of the Mauritanian and Chadian armies by providing advanced drone systems for reconnaissance and surveillance. This initiative aims to enhance the two African countries’ capacity to address regional security challenges effectively. According to a report by Africa Intelligence, Expertise France, the operational arm of […]
France starts withdrawal from Chad as longstanding military presence winds down
French military forces have begun pulling out of Chad, marking the end of a long era of defense cooperation in the region. The withdrawal process, which started with the departure of two Mirage fighter jets, follows Chad’s sudden decision to terminate its defense agreement with Paris. Although details about the timetable and the fate of […]
Sudan accuses Emirates and Chad of “direct and clear” interference
In the nearly 19-month conflict between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular Army, the RSF has escalated its attacks using newly deployed drones. Sudanese officials claim these “strategic drones” signify “direct and clear” interference by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and neighboring Chad, marking an unprecedented escalation in the war that began […]
Chad’s Deby defends decision to break ‘obsolete’ defense pact with Paris
Chadian president Mahamat Idriss Deby has defended his decision to break military ties with France and ask for the withdrawal of French troops, saying that the security agreement with its former colonial master failed to provide substantial military value to the country amid various challenges, including terrorist attacks. Deby has said their defense pact no […]
Chad’s gov’t breaks off defense cooperation agreement with France
Chad’s government is terminating a defense cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, with its top diplomat saying his country has “grown up” and now wants to fully assert its sovereignty. As Sahel nations, from Niger to Mali to Burkina Faso, have ousted French soldiers from their territories and moved closer to Russia, Chad […]