The Russian Embassy in N'Djamena has expressed that the frequent and unrestricted movements of French military personnel within Chad are causing unease among the local population and sparking various rumors. This statement comes in response to the presence of French military forces in Chad and the intergovernmental agreement on security cooperation between France and Chad.
The embassy clarified that a security cooperation agreement exists between France and Chad, established on July 19, 2014, in relation to Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region. This agreement allows French armed forces to utilize ground and air assets within Chad for conducting military operations, both within the country with the participation of Chadian national armed forces (subject to Chadian state authorities' request or awareness), as well as outside the country, such as pursuing terrorists within the G5 Sahel community (comprising Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad).
The Russian embassy also addressed reports suggesting France's consideration of moving its military units from Niger, where a coup took place, to Moundou, Chad's second-largest city. The embassy clarified that there is no French military base in Moundou, and the available bases are located in N'Djamena, Abéché, and Faya. However, the use of Moundou's airport for relocation purposes is theoretically possible.
Regarding French military presence in Africa, France initiated Operation Barkhane in August 2014 to combat Islamist groups across Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad. French losses in this operation, along with its predecessor Operation Serval, have been significant. The government of Mali requested the withdrawal of French forces from the country by August 2022, and many of these troops were subsequently transferred to Niger. Following a military coup in Niger in July 2023, participants in the coup demanded the withdrawal of French troops within the following month.
Several foreign military contingents, including those from Germany, Italy, and the United States, are stationed in Niger, with a significant French airbase in Niamey.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Master Sgt. Christopher DeWitt/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS