Hundreds of people gathered at the N’Djari stadium in N’Djamena, Chad, on Friday to show their support for the government’s decision to end military cooperation with France.
The rally, which was approved by authorities, featured up to 500 people carrying placards that read “bar France” and waving the country’s colors.
According to Abdel daim Abdallah Ousmane, secretary general of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, “After 60 years of cooperation, we don’t need the French military, we have an army, we can defend our country.” He emphasized that the demonstration was peaceful and that Chad is not an enemy of France.
This rally comes after Chad announced its decision to end a defense accord with France, which has been in place since the country gained independence in 1960. France has about 1,000 troops in its last military foothold in the Sahel region.
Chad’s leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, has been seeking closer ties with Moscow, reflecting a broader shift in the region away from French influence.
Chad’s decision to end military cooperation with France is not an isolated incident.
France was forced to remove troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after military takeovers in those countries, which have since become closer to Russia.
