French troops vacate military base in Chad
French soldiers vacated a military base in the eastern Chadian city of Abéché yesterday, following the end of a cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Several French and Chadian officials attended the handover ceremony, which was held at the Abéché Military Base.
Abéché State Governor Bashar Ali Suleiman said in a statement during the ceremony that this historic decision is proof of his country’s confidence in its defence and security forces.
Following the ceremony, a memorandum was signed to hand over the Abéché Military Base, which housed 120 French soldiers, to the Chadian army. Ninety French soldiers will not leave the base, with the remaining due to vacate their positions by 31 January.
The move comes after the Chadian government announced on 28 November 2024, that it had decided to cancel a cooperation agreement with France, its former coloniser.
Subsequently, French fighters and military units began to leave the country.
READ: Chad President: French soldiers will leave our country by the end of January