France and Chad resume military cooperation as they mend ties

France and Chad are resuming defence cooperation on what both sides describe as a renewed basis. The cooperation matters because Chad was one of France’s last military footholds in the Sahel, a region facing serious instability. France says the renewed relationship respects Chad’s sovereignty.

The practical elements include military training, equipment supplies, and intelligence sharing. France also wants to help develop the capabilities of the Chadian air force. A French military stopover will include two Mirage fighter jets and a transport aircraft carrying out training activities in Chad.

The cooperation began again at the start of the year, according to the Elysee. In October, France and Chad signed a declaration of intent to structure defence ties anew, after President Emmanuel Macron hosted Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in Paris. The arrangement could give Chad more training, equipment, and information, while restoring France’s regional role.

Two French Mirage fighter jets and one transport aircraft will stop in Chad to carry out training activities. The visit shows the practical side of France and Chad’s renewed military cooperation. It is a temporary stopover, rather than an announcement of a new permanent French base or troop deployment.

The aircraft will participate in a joint military exercise involving the armed forces of Ivory Coast, Gabon, and France in November. France’s defence staff said the wider goal is to contribute to efforts against regional instability. The exercise also provides a setting for France to work with Chad’s military capabilities.

France says the stopover will help develop the capabilities of the Chadian air force. The article does not specify the exact drills, locations, or number of Chadian personnel involved. It does show that renewed ties are moving beyond diplomatic statements toward visible military training and cooperation.

France’s military presence in the Sahel reached more than 5,000 soldiers. That figure shows how central the region once was to French security policy. It also highlights how dramatically France’s role has contracted since several military takeovers changed regional partnerships.

The soldiers were deployed across the region as part of Operation Barkhane, France’s anti-jihadist operation. The operation ended in November 2022. France had used its forces to support regional security efforts, although the article does not give a country-by-country breakdown of troop numbers.

France later withdrew from nearby Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after coups between 2020 and 2023. Their new leaders moved closer to Russia, while Chad expelled French troops in 2024. The renewed Chad cooperation therefore represents a limited return of French military engagement, not a return to the earlier regional scale.

Chad removed French troops in 2024, ending a security arrangement that had lasted six decades. The article does not state why Chad expelled them, so no specific cause can be established from the available information. The decision marked a major break in a long military relationship.

Relations began improving after President Emmanuel Macron hosted Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in Paris in mid-October. During the visit, France and Chad signed a declaration of intent. It aims to structure defence cooperation on a renewed basis, rather than simply restore the previous arrangement.

The Elysee says security cooperation resumed at the beginning of the year. The renewed relationship includes military training, equipment supplies, and intelligence sharing. France also says it will respect Chad’s sovereignty and help develop its air force. The next visible step is the aircraft stopover and training activity linked to a November exercise.

Renewed French cooperation could strengthen Chad’s ability to respond to regional instability. Training can improve how forces use equipment and coordinate operations. Supplies can add or replace military resources. Intelligence sharing can provide information that helps leaders understand threats and plan responses.

The clearest example is France’s plan to help develop the capabilities of the Chadian air force. Two Mirage fighters and a transport aircraft will conduct training activities during a stopover in Chad. This links the broader agreement to practical military work rather than leaving it as a diplomatic promise.

France’s stated objective is to contribute to efforts against regional instability. The article does not say what equipment Chad will receive, what intelligence will be shared, or whether the arrangement has already improved security. Its likely immediate effect is stronger military cooperation and capacity-building, while its wider impact will depend on how Chad uses the support.

Military coups between 2020 and 2023 changed France’s relationships with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Their new leaders drew closer to Russia. This shift weakened France’s position in countries where it had previously operated as part of its regional security role.

The article directly links the coups and the withdrawals: France was forced to leave those countries as their new leaders moved closer to Russia. It does not describe specific orders, disputes, or military agreements that caused each departure. The key mechanism was a political realignment after the coups.

The result was a sharp reduction in France’s Sahel presence. France once had more than 5,000 soldiers in the region, and Operation Barkhane ended in November 2022. Chad later expelled French troops in 2024. Renewed cooperation with Chad suggests France is rebuilding selected ties, but not restoring its earlier regional network.

The Sahel is a broad semi-arid belt running along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. This definition comes from established geographic knowledge; the article itself assumes readers know the region. It matters strategically because it connects several countries facing security challenges and attracts outside military involvement.

The article shows that importance through France’s actions. Paris once deployed more than 5,000 soldiers there under the anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane. France later withdrew from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after coups brought leaders who moved closer to Russia. Chad was one of France’s last military footholds in the region.

The Sahel is therefore a place where security needs and international influence overlap. France says its renewed cooperation with Chad will help address regional instability. The November exercise with France, Ivory Coast, and Gabon, plus training for Chad’s air force, shows how partnerships are being rebuilt after France’s wider retreat.