Revelations that several French officers have returned to N’Djamena since mid-April to resurrect military cooperation between France and Chad have ignited a significant debate, coming less than two years after the historic decision to end the French military presence in the nation.
While Paris has indicated it does not plan to redeploy permanent forces on Chadian soil, the simple act of resuming military collaboration and intelligence sharing prompts serious questions about its effects on President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s image and the credibility of the political agenda he has promoted since taking power.
A clash with sovereignty and pan-african ideals
In the months that followed the withdrawal of French forces, President Déby framed the move as a major victory for national sovereignty and a strategic reconquest of the state’s independence. He also linked this decision to a narrative advocating for emancipation from foreign dependencies and the cultivation of balanced partnerships, in step with the pan-Africanist momentum gaining traction across the region.
Consequently, restarting military cooperation with Paris, even on a limited basis, might be seen as a retreat from one of the regime’s most emblematic sovereign declarations. This is particularly poignant as Chadian authorities had repeatedly justified the termination of previous military agreements by citing a lack of concrete results and intense popular pressure demanding the departure of French troops.
Chad’s regional standing at risk
Over the last two years, Chad has successfully bolstered its reputation as an influential regional power in security matters, demonstrating an ability to counter threats through cooperation with its neighbors and the diversification of its international alliances. President Déby has also cast himself as a regional mediator and an indispensable figure in stabilization efforts throughout the Sahel and Central Africa.
However, returning to the fold of French intelligence could weaken this carefully crafted image, potentially creating the perception that N’Djamena has not managed to achieve true autonomy from its traditional partner, despite its rhetoric of strategic independence.
A fundamental element that cannot be overlooked in this complex equation is the public’s will. The decision to end the French military presence was a response to popular demand, expressed through multiple protests calling for France to leave Chad. Any new rapprochement with Paris therefore risks stoking the anger of a significant part of the population, which saw the French withdrawal as a sovereign gain that should not be compromised.
Partnering with a former political adversary
The paradox lies in the fact that France, which is now returning as a security partner, has been one of the main sources of pressure on the Déby regime over the past two years.
In July 2024, accusations targeting the Chadian president and several members of his family were pursued by the French justice system in investigations into alleged embezzlement of public funds and expenditures on luxury hotels, high-end vehicles, and expensive attire. These cases were reactivated in March 2026, accompanied by persistent speculation about a possible freeze of assets and accounts linked to the presidential family.
To re-establish cooperation with a state that has used its judicial and media apparatus to personally target the head of state’s image raises legitimate questions about the degree of political trust that can exist between the two parties.
Simultaneously, in October 2025, France hosted the most significant gathering of the Chadian political and politico-military opposition in Nantes. Nearly twenty organizations and movements participated with the aim of coordinating their political, diplomatic, and military efforts against the authorities in N’Djamena.
Paris also played a notable role in the Succès Masra affair, particularly through the involvement of French lawyers in his defense, initiatives to facilitate his transfer to France for medical care, and the publicizing of his case within the French Parliament and various European and international institutions.
Balancing security needs and political costs
No one disputes that Chad faces mounting security challenges in the Lake Chad region and along its eastern and northern borders. The critical question today, however, is whether the potential security benefits of a renewed alliance with Paris justify the political and symbolic cost of such a decision.
President Déby has constructed a significant portion of his legitimacy on a discourse centered on sovereignty, independence, and the rejection of any form of foreign dependence. Any renewal of military cooperation with France could therefore undermine the credibility of this narrative and give his political adversaries an opening to question the sincerity of the sovereign project he has championed for several years.
Finally, a crucial question must be asked: how can one justify returning to a partner that has politically, mediatically, and judicially welcomed the opposition, criticized the regime, and attempted to exert pressure on it, only to present it once again to the public as an indispensable partner for the future of national security?
