Version imprimableAs soon as he returned from Chad, Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, learned that the Chadian authorities had decided to break the defence cooperation agreements with France, without this subject having been discussed during his visit. This decision surprised everyone, first and foremost the Quai d’Orsay, even though the statement by Abderaman Koulamallah, government spokesman, explaining "that Chad is a sovereign state and very jealous of its sovereignty " could have suggested it
That’s it, it’s over
The irony is certainly rather bitter for the ruling circles in France, which has never ceased to support the successive dictatorships of this country. While Macron himself travelled to attend the inauguration ceremony of Mahamat Déby following his coup d’état, learning from the press that Chad considers it necessary to "redefine its strategic partnerships" must be hard to swallow.
This country plays a key role in the French military system in Africa. Since its independence in 1960, the French army has always maintained a presence there. Sometimes, it even conducted wars there, with the operations "Manta" and then "Epervier" against Libyan troops in 1978 and 1987. On several occasions, this same army saved the day for the dictator Idriss Déby, the father of the president now in power.
Chad’s importance was demonstrated during Operation Barkhane, where its headquarters was established in the capital N’Djamena, while Chadian forces on the front line suffered a heavy toll during clashes with Islamist militias in northern Mali.
Go away, and above all don’t coms back
The reasons for the decision to expel the thousand French soldiers are being discussed in the press that specialises in Africa. On a personal level, Mahamat Déby is said to be not very appreciative of the investigations by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office concerning him and his family. The cause is ill-gotten gains, luxury homes and also clothes totalling 900,000 euros.
N’Djamena criticized France for its refusal to share information on the attacks by the jihadist group Boko Haram, which caused the death of around forty soldiers, as well as its opposition to the triggering of air cover during the counterattack led by Chadian troops. Finally, Mahamat Déby reportedly took badly Jean-Noël Barrot’s criticisms of Chad’s support for General Hemedti in the war in Sudan, as well as his advice to postpone the legislative elections scheduled for the end of December in order to promote greater inclusiveness in the electoral process.
So hardly had Jean-Marie Bockel ’s report on the French military presence in Africa been submitted to Macron than it became obsolete.
Finally, let’s be a good sport. Hats off (or rather, caps off ) to the Barnier government, which in three months has managed to put an end, quite unintentionally, to more than 60 years of French presence in Chad.
10 December 2024.
Translated by International Viewpoint from l’Anticapitaliste.
