France has been forced to expedite the withdrawal of its troops from Chad following an unexpected directive from the Chadian government, demanding the complete evacuation of French forces from N’Djamena by December 31.
This abrupt decision caught Paris off guard. France had initially planned to begin withdrawing troops next week, with a gradual repatriation process expected to conclude in March. However, the sudden ultimatum compelled French authorities to accelerate their efforts, sending the first group of 120 soldiers back to France on Friday afternoon.
The move marks another significant blow to France’s influence in the Sahel region, with Chad previously serving as its final stronghold in West Africa. The relationship between the two nations has deteriorated rapidly in recent months, exacerbated by a violent attack in October when Boko Haram insurgents killed 40 Chadian soldiers in the Lake Chad region
