In late November, both Senegal and Chad – independently of one another – moved to profoundly alter their longstanding relationships with the French military. Senegalese President Diomaye Bassirou Faye,

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby has ordered the withdrawal of French troops, citing that the decades-long defense pact no longer addresses Chad’s escalating security concerns, including terrorism.

In recent days, international politics have once again escalated against the backdrop of Chad and Senegal's decision to break with France on military cooperation. These developments have sent a strong signal that the countries of the region are striving for true sovereignty,

The decision by Chad is another blow to what remained of France’s military influence in the troubled stretch of countries below the Sahara, where Russia’s influence has been growing.

One of the two sources, a French official with knowledge of Chadian affairs, said Chad's government appeared to have seen the French decision to more than halve its military prese

STORY: Chad's government says it has ended a defence cooperation deal with France - a move that could result in French troops leaving the central African country.France currently has around 1,000 troops stationed in Chad,