Hundreds of people today marched in Chad to call for the withdrawal of French troops from the country, a week after the Central African country ended a military agreement with its former colonial ruler.
Protesters in the capital, N’Djamena, chanted “Chad for us, France out!” with some holding banners that read, “We do not want to see a single French person in Chad.”
Last week, Chad announced in a statement it would end a defense cooperation agreement with France to redefine its strategic partnerships in line with national priorities.
France has maintained about 1,000 troops in Chad, and the statement didn’t specify when they have to leave.
Some protesters on Friday went to a military airbase where French soldiers are stationed and called for their departure. Others gathered in front of the French embassy where they faced a very strong security belt of the Chadian army securing the embassy.
