N'Djamena, Chad – A significant demonstration took place in N'Djamena on Friday, with up to 500 protesters gathering at the N'Djari stadium, draped in the national colors and carrying placards that read "bar France." The protest was a strong display of public sentiment against the continued presence of French troops in the country.

Abdel daim Abdallah Ousmane, secretary general of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, expressed the protesters' sentiments, stating, "After 60 years of cooperation, we don't need the French military, we have an army, we can defend our country." He emphasized that the demonstration was peaceful and that they did not consider France an enemy.

While large-scale street rallies were prohibited, authorities permitted the stadium gathering. Smaller demonstrations were also observed in various parts of the capital. A similar protest involving hundreds of people had occurred in the eastern city of Abeche on Thursday.

France currently maintains a military presence of around 1,000 troops in Chad, its last significant foothold in the Sahel region. However, on November 28, Chad announced its decision to terminate a defense accord with France, a pact that had been in place since the country's independence in 1960.

A special committee formed to oversee the implementation of this historic decision held its inaugural meeting on Thursday. The government's statement emphasized the nation's determination to regain full sovereignty over its defense matters.

This move reflects a broader trend of waning French influence in the region. In recent years, France has been compelled to withdraw its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups that have led these countries to align more closely with Russia.

Chad's leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, has also sought to strengthen ties with Moscow, although concrete results from economic cooperation talks are yet to materialize. Despite these geopolitical shifts, Chad continues to grapple with significant security challenges, including threats from Boko Haram and other militant groups.