France and Chad sign defence declaration as Macron hosts Déby in Paris

Mixed · 2French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno in Paris on Tuesday 13 October, as the two countries rebuild ties nearly two years after N'Djamena ordered French forces to leave. 1 2 Centre · 1The countries' defence ministers signed a declaration of intent to structure their defence cooperation "on a renewed basis"; the French presidency said it provides a framework covering training, expertise, industry and technology. 2 Mixed · 2Macron wrote on X that France was "formalising the strengthening of our defence partnership" based on "mutual respect and practical cooperation". His office had earlier described a relationship "of equals, with mutual respect", and said the aim was "to relaunch a partnership" in the "cultural, economic and security realms". 2 1

Mixed · 2Relations nosedived in November 2024, when Chad ended a six-decade security arrangement by ordering French troops out. This followed forced French military withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after coups there. 1 2 Mixed · 2The thaw began in January when Déby was received at the Elysée Palace; he and Macron met again at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi in May, and two Chadian ministers visited Paris in late September to seek investment. 1 2 Mixed · 2According to the Elysée, security cooperation was restored at the start of the year, notably military training, equipment supplies and intelligence sharing. A high-ranking Chadian officer told AFP that French intelligence officers have been deployed to N'Djamena and a French surveillance plane operates on the border around Lake Chad, where Boko Haram is active. 1 2

Centre · 1A French diplomatic source said the countries were operating in a "legal vacuum" since N'Djamena terminated the agreement, and that cooperation had resumed but "needs to be formalised". 2 Mixed · 2The talks come amid regional turmoil, including the war in Sudan that has sent a million refugees into Chad, Boko Haram activity around Lake Chad, and hostile armed groups in Niger and Libya. 1 2 Centre · 1Economic ties are a growing part of the relationship: Medef hosted a September forum of 250 companies, and the Elysée said Medef will send a delegation to Chad in the coming months. Chad says it aims to raise $30 billion and boost GDP by 60 percent by 2030. 2