(Ecofin Agency) - The strengthening of ties between N'Djamena and Paris comes at a time of national and regional political tension. In recent weeks, civil society organizations have called for the agreements with France to be broken.

During his working visit to France, which began on October 16, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the leader of Chad, engaged in discussions aimed at "enhancing and revitalizing the potential for bilateral cooperation between Chad and France."

According to an official note from the Chadian presidency, General Mahamat Idriss Déby requested "France's continued and consistent support as the end of the transition period approaches". This is expected to enable the transitional authorities "to respect all commitments", for a return to civilian rule in 2024.

The visit to France comes as the transition process, launched in October 2022, enters its final phase. Chad is preparing for a controversial constitutional referendum to be held in December. Since the announcement of such a project, political tensions have been rekindled.

The N'Djamena military regime's approach is likely to provoke fierce criticism at a time when three of Chad's Sahelian neighbors have officially broken off diplomatic relations with Paris, and ordered the closure of French bases on their territories.

Chad is home to France's Sahel operations command. French troops, who began their withdrawal from Niger at the beginning of October 2023, will have to make a stopover there before their final departure for France.