France has initiated the withdrawal of its military forces from Chad, starting with the departure of two Mirage fighter jets on Tuesday. These aircraft left N'Djamena, heading back to a base in France, marking a shift following Chad's termination of its defense agreement with France last month. Col. Guillaume Vernet, a French military spokesman, stated ongoing discussions will determine the timeline for the removal of the remaining 1,000 French troops and whether all will leave. Hundreds of protestors in N'Djamena called for their full withdrawal, shouting, "Chad for us, France out!"
The Chadian government's decision to end the defense pact signifies a "historic turning point" since gaining independence in 1960. This move allows Chad to reassess its strategic alliances to align with its national goals. Recently, France has faced expulsion from other regional countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which have made steps toward aligning with Russia, including embracing Russian mercenaries active in the Sahel region. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)