France has officially handed over its second military base in Chad as part of an agreement to withdraw its forces from the country.

The base in Abéché, located in eastern Chad, was formally transferred to Chadian authorities on Saturday in a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Issaka Malloua Djamouss, as reported by AFP.

The withdrawal follows Chad’s abrupt decision in November to end military cooperation with its former colonial ruler.

French troops began leaving the country in December, with a complete withdrawal deadline set for January 31.

“Today… marks the handover of the Abeche base,” Defence Minister Issaka Djamouss said during an official ceremony. He called it a key step “leading to the final and total withdrawal of this army in our country.”

Djamouss added that the January 31 deadline for France to remove forces for good was “imperative”, “irreversible” and “non-negotiable”.

Approximately 100 French troops departed the Abéché base on Saturday, with equipment convoys leaving the site on Friday.

This follows the handover of the Faya base in northern Chad in mid-December, as well as the departure of fighter jets and 120 soldiers earlier in the month.

French troops have been stationed in Chad since the country gained independence in 1960, providing military training and air support.

This support proved crucial in halting rebel movements that sought to seize power on multiple occasions.

At its peak, France maintained 1,000 personnel in Chad, making it the last Sahel nation to host French troops after withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

“Partnerships evolve but the friendship remains between our two nations, as does the solidarity between two sovereign nations that will continue to move forward side by side as they always have,” French embassy representative Fabien Talon said at the event.

Chad, among the world’s poorest countries, had been a key part of France’s military presence in the Sahel region. However, the military authorities in Chad, like their counterparts in other Sahel countries, have sought to strengthen ties with Russia.

Talks between Chad and Moscow have centered on enhancing economic cooperation, but no significant agreements have yet been finalized.

The withdrawal marks a shift in Chad’s geopolitical stance. President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has described the military agreement with France as outdated and misaligned with the current political and strategic realities.

Deby, who came to power in 2021 following his father’s death in combat with rebels, was formally elected in May 2023, concluding a three-year political transition.

France’s departure signals the end of its anti-jihadist Barkhane operation in the Sahel, where it once deployed over 5,000 troops.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigerians must build a strong, united and indivisible country.

In a post on X on Saturday, Tinubu said while presenting the proposed 2025 budget of N49.7 trillion to the national assembly on December 18, he told the lawmakers that his administration is building a Nigeria “where peace reigns, opportunities abound, and every citizen can dream, work, and thrive in safety”.

The president said his ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’ is for the growth and progress of the country.

“We have to move forward, not as individuals but as one united nation, determined to rewrite our story for the generations to come,” Tinubu wrote.

During the presentation of the Appropriation Bill, last month, Tinubu said the proposed budget reinforces his administration’s roadmap to secure peace, prosperity, and hope for a greater future for Nigeria.

“The time for lamentation is over. This is a time to act. A time to support and promote greater investment in the private sector. A time for every Nigerian to look hopefully towards a brighter future because a new day has dawned for us as a nation,” the president said.

“Together, we have embarked on a journey of transformation and reform, and while the road has not been easy, the progress we have made is undeniable.”

On December 19, the appropriation bill scaled the second reading at the senate and house of representatives.

On January 6, heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) began defending their budget estimates before the relevant committees of the national assembly.

The national assembly is expected to pass the budget by the end of January.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed on Saturday that line trippings caused the power fluctuations experienced in some parts of the country.

Ndidi Mbah, the TCN spokesperson, while stating in a statement that the national grid did not experience a collapse on Saturday, disclosed that the Ihovbor line tripped at 1:41 pm, which was followed by the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line.

Mbah, while noting that trippings, which affected bulk power supply to the Lagos axis only, explained that the line tripping disrupted operations at Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Geregu, and Paras power stations. While these facilities have since been restored, she added that the restoration of the Benin-Omotosho 330kV line was still ongoing as of Saturday evening.

“Earlier today, at about 13:41 hrs, the Osogbo-Ihovbor line tripped, followed by the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line. These consequently affected bulk supply only on the Lagos axis.

“It is important to clarify that at about 13:00 hrs today, just before the tripping, total generation on the grid was 4,335.63 MW. After the trippings, however, generation dropped to 2,573.23 MW, showing clearly that the grid did not experience a collapse.

“The transmission line tripping affected Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Geregu, and Paras power stations. These have all been restored except for the Benin-Omotosho 330kV line, whose restoration is ongoing,” Mbah stated.

Source: PUNCH