The announcement came shortly after a meeting between Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad.

In his statement, Koulamallah declared, "After 66 years since the independence of the Republic of Chad, it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty, and to redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities." This decisive move will necessitate the withdrawal of roughly a thousand French troops currently stationed in the landlocked Central African country.

France has yet to issue a response to Chad's decision. The development aligns with a broader trend in the region, where countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have also demanded the exit of French military forces following internal political upheavals.

Adding to the series of events, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called for the closure of French military bases in his nation. Faye referenced French President Emmanuel Macron's acknowledgment of France's role in the massacre of Senegalese soldiers in 1944, as Senegal prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the tragedy.

"Senegal is an independent country; it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," said Faye.

Both Chad and Senegal emphasized that their decisions are distinct from the situation in Niger and do not signify a complete break from France. The changes come amid increasing Russian efforts to strengthen its presence in Africa, coupled with existing political instability across the continent.

France's foreign ministry has not yet commented on the unfolding situation.