Chad and France have quietly restarted their military cooperation, less than two years after N’Djamena ordered the withdrawal of French forces.
The first French military personnel returned to Chad in April 2026 for training, intelligence support and limited air operations, as both countries redefine a partnership that once saw 1,000 French troops stationed on Chadian soil.
The renewed arrangement marks a clear shift from the previous model of a permanent French military presence. Under the new framework, there will be no permanent French bases in Chad, and French involvement will be limited to small, mobile teams deployed at the request of Chadian authorities.
Analysts describe the arrangement as a “cautious attempt to return through the side door,” with fewer soldiers, less visibility and more dependence on Chadian political consent. The focus is on practical support: training Chadian troops, sharing intelligence and providing air assets for medical evacuation and ground-force support—capabilities Chad has struggled to maintain since the French departure.
Chad faces persistent threats from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad Basin, while instability in neighboring Sudan has created additional risks along Chad’s eastern border. Chadian observers view the rapprochement as a way to preserve channels of security cooperation while accounting for the political and regional shifts that have reshaped France’s relations with several Sahel states in recent years.
Initial cooperation is expected to center on air operations. French and Chadian air forces are slated to resume joint activities first, with potential expansion to ground forces later. Discussions have also included the possibility of Chad purchasing French helicopters and aircraft. One option under consideration would allow France to conduct air operations from its former Sergeant Adji Kosseï base in N’Djamena—the last French installation handed over to Chad during the 2025 withdrawal.
After expelling French forces in early 2025 amid a wave of anti-French sentiment in the Sahel, Chad explored partnerships with Russia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates. Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby visited Paris in late January 2026 for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, signaling a recalibration of ties after their formal military pact was annulled in late 2024.
