Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno is scheduled to visit Paris on Thursday, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a significant step towards improving relations between the two countries. The meeting comes after a period of tension that lasted over a year, triggered by Chad’s decision to end a long-standing defense agreement with France.
According to a statement from the French presidency, the talks will focus on the future of relations between France and Chad, with the aim of building a renewed and mutually beneficial partnership. This development follows a diplomatic chill that began in mid-2024 and reached a breaking point when Chad formally terminated its military cooperation agreement with France in November of that year. The move led to the complete withdrawal of French troops from the country under Déby’s leadership.
The Chadian presidency has struck a conciliatory note, stating its desire to “redefine” cooperation with Paris to better address current challenges. This shift in tone comes after Déby met with the French ambassador earlier this week. The meeting between Déby and Macron is seen as an opportunity to reset relations, which have been strained since Chad ended its military cooperation with France.
The rift between the two countries was further exacerbated by Macron’s comments about the “ingratitude” of African countries towards the French army, which prompted a sharp response from Déby. Additionally, French courts had opened an investigation into the Chadian leader over alleged misappropriation of public funds and concealment.
In recent months, Chad has moved to diversify its international partnerships, strengthening ties with countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Russia. Déby has also engaged with various French political leaders, including Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally party, during her visit to N’Djamena in March.
The meeting between Déby and Macron is significant, as it marks a potential turning point in the relations between France and Chad. The talks are expected to focus on building a renewed partnership that benefits both countries, and may pave the way for increased cooperation in areas such as security and economic development. As France seeks to reset its Africa policy amid shrinking influence, the meeting between the two leaders is a crucial step towards improving relations and addressing the challenges facing the region.
