Chad begins military transition as humanitarian crisis escalates

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N’Djamena, Chad – France has initiated the withdrawal of its troops from Chad, marking the end of a decades-long military presence in the region. This follows the Chadian government’s decision last month to terminate a bilateral defence agreement, describing it as a historic turning point since gaining independence in 1960.

AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com 

Negotiations remain ongoing to determine the timeline and scope of the withdrawal, as authorities reaffirm diplomatic ties with Paris despite growing public protests demanding the immediate departure of French forces.

Meanwhile, Chad faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as over 700,000 Sudanese refugees have fled across its border to escape a brutal civil war in Sudan since April 2023.

Women and children account for 90% of the arrivals, with many bearing the scars of severe human rights abuses. The refugee influx has overwhelmed Chad’s already fragile infrastructure, exacerbated by catastrophic floods displacing thousands and crippling the country’s healthcare system.

In domestic politics, Chad’s transitional council elevated junta leader Mahamat Déby to the rank of marshal, a symbolic move mirroring his late father Idriss Déby Itno, who ruled for three decades before his death in combat in 2021. As Chad redefines its international alliances, it confronts mounting internal challenges, balancing political consolidation with escalating humanitarian and infrastructural crises.