The Ukrainian An-124-100M transport aircraft played a crucial role in the withdrawal of the French military contingent from Chad. This development follows the recent handover of the first French military base in the country, marking the beginning of the end of decades of French military presence in the Sahel region.
Strategic Airlift by An-124
The Antonov An-124 Ruslan, known by its NATO reporting name “Condor,” is a large, strategic airlift, four-engined aircraft designed in the 1980s by the Antonov design bureau in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union (USSR). It is the world’s second heaviest gross weight production cargo airplane and the largest military transport aircraft currently in service, only surpassed by the now-destroyed Antonov An-225 Mriya.
As part of the French withdrawal, the Chadian military confirmed that an An-124 aircraft carrying 70 tons of cargo took off on Thursday. This airlift operation underscores the An-124’s significant cargo capacity and its strategic importance in military logistics.
Handover of Military Bases
Chad’s chief of military staff announced the handover of the base at Faya-Largeau in the north of the country. He also stated that updates on the progress of the withdrawal of French troops from bases in the eastern city of Abéché and the capital N’Djamena would be provided in due course. The French military chief of staff confirmed that the handover occurred in accordance with the agreed calendar and conditions.
The withdrawal of French forces from Chad began ten days after French warplanes left the country. This move aligns with Chad’s preparations for parliamentary and local elections scheduled for Sunday. The departure from Chad is part of a broader trend, as France has already pulled its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups and growing anti-French sentiment in those countries.
Military Withdrawal and Future Plans
The French troops, without specifying the exact number, left Faya-Largeau in vehicles heading for N’Djamena, located 780 kilometers to the south. French authorities stated that all military equipment would leave the country by January, to be repatriated through the Cameroonian port of Douala. The withdrawal of troops began on the eve of parliamentary and local elections in Chad.
Chad had been a key link in France’s military presence in Africa and its last foothold in the Sahel region following the withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The military authorities in these countries have pivoted towards Russia in recent years, with Chadian leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno also seeking closer ties with Moscow.
French soldiers and fighter jets have been stationed in Chad almost continuously since the country’s independence in 1960, playing a crucial role in training the Chadian military and providing air support against rebel movements. However, last month, Chad abruptly ended military cooperation with France, its former colonial power.
Previously, Chad hosted approximately 2,000 French military personnel. In October 2023, some French troops arrived in Chad after being withdrawn from neighboring Nigér following their Government request.
The decisions by Senegal and Chad to end military cooperation with France are part of a wider structural transformation in the region’s engagement with France, reflecting the diminishing political and military influence of Paris. This shift highlights the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Sahel region and the broader African continent.
The involvement of the Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft in the French military withdrawal from Chad exemplifies the strategic significance of airlift capabilities in modern military operations. As France continues to reassess its military strategy in Africa, the handover of military bases and the withdrawal of troops from Chad mark a pivotal moment in the region’s security landscape.
