France has been caught off guard by Chad’s demand for the complete withdrawal of all French personnel from its N’Djamena military base by December 31, halting plans for a phased troop departure.
Until now, Chad was seen as the final bastion of French influence in the Sahel region. Paris had intended to begin repatriating troops gradually starting Tuesday, with a full withdrawal anticipated by March.
However, the sudden communiqué from Chad’s government forced France to accelerate its plans, sending 120 soldiers back on Friday. 
Tensions escalated in October when Boko Haram insurgents killed 40 Chadian soldiers in a Lake Chad attack. Chad accused France of withholding critical information and failing to provide support following the incident, leading to public outrage and demonstrations across the country demanding the withdrawal of French forces.
The abrupt end to the Chad-France defence pact leaves unanswered questions about Chad’s next strategic alliances and the broader implications for security in the Sahel region.
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