Media reported on Chadian authorities' demand to withdraw French troops by Jan. 31

The Chadian authorities demand that France withdraw its troops from the country by January 31. This was reported by RFI radio on December 20, citing sources close to the French and Chadian governments.

According to the radio interlocutor, Paris received the demand from Chad on Thursday, December 19. As a senior French military official noted, it is virtually impossible to fulfill it in just seven weeks. Negotiations on the situation are ongoing.

"We are trying to find a solution that would suit both sides," said a source close to the Chadian government.

As French sources pointed out, the withdrawal of equipment is already underway, and the Chadian authorities see the ideal scenario for themselves as the complete liberation of the country from French troops before the start of Ramadan at the end of February.

Earlier, on December 11, the General Staff of the French Armed Forces (AF) said that its presence in Chad is inconsistent with the interests of both countries. It indicated that the withdrawal of fighter capabilities - the planes themselves, their crews and mechanics - was only an initial step.

On Dec. 10, Reuters reported that France had begun withdrawing its army units from Chad. On that day, Mirage fighter jets flew from N'Djamena to the base area, which is located in southern France. Paris has not yet agreed on the exact terms of the withdrawal.

On November 28, Chad's foreign ministry said that the republic was tearing up its defense partnership agreement with France, signed in 2019. The ministry's statement clarified that N'Djamena wants to fully assert its sovereignty and review strategic partnerships after 66 years of independence.