Chad ended its military cooperation with France, its former colonial power, last month, and French troops began their departure from the country last week.

France has officially handed over its first military base in Chad as part of its ongoing withdrawal of military forces, according to both the French and Chadian military officials.

On Thursday, Chad's chief of military staff confirmed that the base in Faya-Largeau, located in the northern region of the country, had been handed over. The Chadian army further announced that it would keep the public informed regarding the progress of the French forces' withdrawal from other bases, specifically those in the eastern city of Abeche and the capital, N'Djamena.

The Chadian military reported that French troops had left the base in vehicles heading towards N'Djamena, situated 780 kilometers (480 miles) to the south. However, they did not specify the exact number of personnel involved. The French military had approximately 1,000 soldiers stationed in Chad.

According to the French military’s chief of staff, the handover was completed in accordance with the established timeline and conditions mutually agreed upon by both France and Chad.

This move follows Chad’s decision last month to end military cooperation with its former colonial power. French troops began their departure from the country last Friday, just 10 days after French warplanes had left.

The withdrawal is taking place as Chad prepares for its parliamentary and local elections, scheduled for this coming Sunday.

As part of the withdrawal process, Chad's military also reported that an Antonov 124 cargo plane had taken off on Thursday, carrying 70 tonnes of equipment as part of the ongoing pullout.

French authorities have indicated that military vehicles will be withdrawn by January and transported out of Chad via the Cameroonian port of Douala.

Chad has played a pivotal role in France’s military presence in Africa, serving as a crucial base for French operations. It was the last remaining foothold for French forces in the broader Sahel region following the withdrawal of troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after a series of military coups in those countries. The military regimes in these three countries have increasingly sought closer ties with Russia.

Chad itself shares borders with several countries—Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, and Niger—where Russia’s paramilitary forces, including those affiliated with the Wagner Group, operate.

In recent months, Chad's leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has pursued stronger ties with Moscow, although talks aimed at enhancing economic cooperation have yet to yield significant results.

French military forces, including soldiers and fighter jets, have been stationed in Chad almost continuously since the country's independence in 1960. These forces have played a vital role in training the Chadian military and providing crucial air support to help combat rebels attempting to seize power on several occasions.

The political transition following the death of long-time ruler Idriss Deby Itno in 2021, during a confrontation with rebels, culminated in the election of his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, in May. This marked the end of a three-year transitional period, during which France had supported Chad in combating rebel uprisings in 2008 and 2019.