[REVISION HISTORY]

France-Chad economic and defense cooperation

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2026-10-14 11:12 UTC → 2026-10-15 15:16 UTC · added ~~removed~~

France and Chad are working to redefine their bilateral relationship through economic and defense cooperation following the end of their military partnership in late 2024. In September 2026, the France-Chad Business Forum was held in Paris, involving approximately 250 companies and officials. The forum focused on sectors such as agriculture, energy, and extractive industries, with an emphasis on mobilizing private capital for Chad’s ‘Tchad Connexion 2030’ national development plan. While French companies continue to operate in agribusiness, construction, and logistics, investment levels have seen a decline from 111 million euros in 2019 to 48 million euros in 2024. To counter this, the Chadian government is implementing reforms including a new labor code, tax exemptions, and the digitalization of state services. On October 13, 2026, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace to formalize a new direction for bilateral relations. Following the withdrawal of French troops in early 2025, the two nations signed a new declaration of intent to structure defense cooperation. This new framework shifts away from a permanent military presence toward a model centered on training, expertise, industry, and defense technologies. The objective is to enhance the operational capacities of the Chadian armed forces while respecting N’Djamena’s demand for strategic autonomy. The agreement does not include the return of French military bases or permanent troop deployments, but aims to address regional security concerns in the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin. Defense ministers from both nations have also signed a declaration of intent to restart dialogue, emphasizing technical cooperation, logistics, and intelligence amid regional instability and the impact of the war in Sudan.

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