Chad: France and Chad Sign 'Renewed' Defence Partnership Following Two-Year Hiatus

What the report says

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno in Paris on Tuesday as France and Chad moved to restore a defence relationship that had been disrupted for two years. According to the RFI report carried by AllAfrica, the two countries’ defence ministers signed a declaration of intent to place their military cooperation on a “renewed basis,” signalling a formal effort to rebuild ties after N’Djamena ordered French forces to leave Chad in 2024.

The article says the new framework is meant to organize cooperation in training, expertise, industry and technology, and to support the development of Chad’s armed forces in new areas. Macron presented the meeting as part of a broader reset in the relationship, while the French presidency said security cooperation had already resumed earlier in the year, including military training, equipment support and intelligence sharing.

The reported thaw comes against a difficult regional backdrop, with instability across the Sahel and conflict in Sudan sending large numbers of refugees into Chad. The story also notes pressure from armed groups near Chad’s borders, including in areas around Lake Chad and toward Niger and Libya. More broadly, the article suggests France is trying to rework its engagement with African partners after a series of military withdrawals and strained ties across the region.