Two French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and a CASA transport aircraft are expected to make a technical stopover in Chad “very soon,” which would be the first such visit since French troops left the country in January 2025.
The French military command said the aircraft will carry out training activities before joining an exercise with Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon scheduled for November 8–30, involving roughly 30 military personnel, according to RFI.
The stopover follows a meeting between Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on October 12–13, where the two countries signed a declaration of intent on defense-capability cooperation.
The declaration, signed by French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin and Chadian Defense Minister Gen. Issakha Maloua Djamous, aims to structure cooperation in training, expertise, defense industry, and technology, and to support the development of Chad’s armed forces, particularly in innovative fields.
Officials stressed that the document is a framework for future dialogue rather than a new military basing agreement or an immediate return of French forces to Chad. The aircraft visit stems from a roadmap set by the two presidents in January 2026, and French forces could redeploy in the future only with N’Djamena’s prior approval.
The rapprochement comes as Chad faces deteriorating relations with several neighbors, including Niger, Sudan and the Central African Republic. Niger has accused Chad of cooperating with France to destabilize the Sahel, allegations N’Djamena has rejected.
Chad terminated its defense agreements with France in November 2024, and the last French troops withdrew in early 2025. Meanwhile, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have moved away from Paris and deepened security ties with Russia.
