Chad asks France to withdraw its troops by January 31, 2025

According to a source close to the Chadian authorities, the previous plan to withdraw the troops by March did not suit the African side

Chad’s authorities have demanded that France withdraw all its troops from the country’s territory by January 31, 2025, France’s RFI radio station reported.

According to it, the day before Paris received an order to all French servicemen to leave the country by January 31.

“Only seven weeks to get a thousand soldiers and a large amount of equipment out, it’s impossible,” the media outlet quoted a senior French defence official as saying.

According to a source close to the Chadian authorities, the previous plan to withdraw the troops by March did not suit the African side, which insisted on withdrawing the contingent at least by the end of February, when the Muslim holiday of Ramadan begins.

“We are trying to find a solution that suits both sides,” Chad added.Earlier, several French Mirage fighter jets left the N’Djamena airbase. Another 150 French servicemen will be evacuated from Chad starting next week, the radio station noted.

On November 29, the Chadian Foreign Ministry announced that the country had decided to terminate the defence cooperation agreement with France.

On December 5, Chadian Prime Minister Allamaye Halina officially appointed the members of a commission to implement the decision to end military cooperation with France.

The commission consists of 21 people. Its tasks include the legal, logistical, and other aspects of severing military ties.