French troops have officially vacated the Abeche military base in eastern Chad, according to a report by Alwihda Info on Saturday. The withdrawal follows Chad's decision to end its defense agreement with France in late November 2024.

The handover ceremony for the base was attended by Chadian Defense Minister Issakha Maloua Djamous, along with military and civilian leaders. General Chahane Issakha Acheikh, the Chadian armed forces' communications director, confirmed the completion of the transfer.

Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah previously stated in an interview with Le Monde that France should remove its military contingent, stressing the need for full sovereignty. Reports from Jeune Afrique indicated that the rift between the two nations stemmed from differing views on the conflict in Sudan.

This withdrawal comes amid a broader decline in France's military presence across Africa. In December, the first group of 120 French soldiers departed Chad, and France handed over the Faya military base in the north at the end of 2024. Earlier, France was also compelled to leave Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after requests from their governments.