France Begins Full Military Withdrawal from Chad with First Base Handover

The Faya-Largeau base has been transferred to Chadian control as France concludes decades-long military presence in the Sahel region.

France has handed over the Faya-Largeau military base in northern Chad, marking the start of a complete withdrawal of its forces from the country.
The withdrawal follows Chad's decision to terminate a 60-year-old military cooperation agreement with France, announced in late November 2024.
Approximately 1,000 French troops stationed across three bases in Chad are set to leave, with military vehicles and equipment being repatriated through Cameroon by January 2025.
Chad was France's last stronghold in the Sahel region after similar withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as these nations pivoted toward new international alliances, including Russia.
The move comes just days before Chad's parliamentary and local elections, amid ongoing regional instability and challenges such as the Boko Haram insurgency and Sudanese refugee influx.