As Chad cuts ties with France, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu visits French President Emmanuel Macron to address ‘shared values concerning finance, solid minerals, trade and investment’.

On the same day neighbouring Chad announced its decision to cut military ties with France, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu – on a state visit to Paris – told French President Emmanuel Macron that his country “is open for business”.

Tinubu began a two-day visit to France on Thursday, November 28, the first official state visit to Paris by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades.

Nigeria wants to “build ties in agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement, innovation and energy transition”, Tinubu’s office said in a statement.

He and Macron will address “shared values concerning finance, solid minerals, trade and investment, and communication” – and Tinubu wants to tap economic investment.

He wants to strengthen Nigeria’s position as France’s top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Last year bilateral commerce was worth more than US$5 million.

“Nigeria is open for business,” he said after his meeting with Macron. Nigeria should be regarded as “a serious country and partner”.

Macron welcomed Tinubu with a warm greeting in Nigerian Pidgin English, emphasising the cultural connection between the two leaders.

“Na big honor for France to welcome you for dis state visit.”

Macron said France will “continue to invest” in Nigeria.

Since coming to power in 2017, Macron has sought a “renewal” between France and Africa.

But France has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years following military coups in its former colonies, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. The new military rulers in those countries broke relations with France and have tried to forge closer ties with Russia.

Ba’ana Modu Aji, a political analyst based in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast, told RNI that strengthening democracy was a key objective of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

“Nigeria is trying to bolster its relationship with the West to maintain its status quo of being the largest and most stable democracy in Africa.

“Presently, the Sahel and the West Africa are divided into pro-democracy [anti-military government] and anti-democracy [pro-military government]. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are governed by military juntas and they have cut ties with France to gain full independence from their former colony, particularly concerning finance and security.

“As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria has felt threatened as some of its neighbours are still in the era of military rule. However, strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and France at this critical time will affect the historic relationship between Nigeria and some its neighbours in the Sahel.

“Most of these countries have already dumped France and are looking at Russia as partner – particularly in security and socioeconomically.

“Nigeria’s foreign policy is seeking to strengthen and stabilise the country’s democratic system of government by bolstering its ties with Western countries, such as Germany, the United Kingdom [UK], France and the United States [US].

“Tinubu wants to stabilise democracy, especially in the wake of democratic governments being overthrown and military takeovers which has caused further insecurity, political tension and civil unrest in the Sahel and West Africa.”

CHAD CUTS MILITARY TIES WITH FRANCE

Just hours after Jean-Noel Barrot, the French foreign minister, met Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno on Thursday, the country’s foreign minister announced that it was cutting military ties with France.

In a statement on Facebook, Abderaman Koulamallah said Chad intended to “reshape its alliances in line with national priorities”. He said the move would not undermine historical ties with France and it remained “an essential partner”.

Koulamallah said France “must now consider that Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”. It was time for his country to “assert its full sovereignty”.

Until the announcement, Chad was one of the remaining countries in the Sahel where France maintained a military presence. In the past two years Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso expelled French troops and turned to Russia for partnerships.

Koulamallah described Chad’s decision to end its defence cooperation agreement with France – its former colonial ruler – as “a historial turning point”, adding that it was made after “in-depth analysis”.

“Chad, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, undertakes to respect the terms laid down for its termination, including the notice period.”

France has about 1,000 troops in Chad. The statement did not specify a date for their withdrawal. Apart from the soldiers, France has warplanes stationed in Chad.

The defence cooperation agreement was last revised on September 5, 2019. Koullamallah said the decision to cut military ties with France followed a thorough review of the agreement.

Chad expressed gratitude to France for the cooperation extended under the agreement and Koullamallah said it remained open to exploring new forms of partnership.

Sadiq Abubakar, a security analyst based in the Niger Republic, told RNI that France had been forced to pull out its troops in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in the past two years.

“The Chadian government did not disclose a date for the withdrawal of the French troops. The latest termination of the defence cooperation agreement is a major setback to France in terms of its military presence – or lack thereof – in the Sahel.

“When Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger cut ties with France, they quickly established a grouping known as the Alliance of the Sahel States to protect their respective political, socioeconomic and security interests.

“Chad has a good relationship with the Sahelian countries but it is not clear if it will join the alliance.

“It is thought that the Chadian government is prepared to kick French troops off their soil because the soldiers have not played a crucial role in combating the insurgency and uprising of armed groups that is bedevilling the country’s territories.

“Recently Chad lost many of its soldiers, including military officers, in a massive attack by ISWAP [Islamic State West Africa Province] insurgents despite the presence of the French troops.

“It is clear that their presence is irrelevant because they cannot help in the fight against the insurgency in their host country.”

Déby was sworn in as president in May after three years as an interim leader under military rule. He took over from his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who seized power in a coup in 1990. He was killed by rebels in 2021.

The elder Déby relied on French military support to fend off rebel offensives.

Landlocked Chad borders the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Niger, all of which host paramilitary forces from Russia’s Wagner Group.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO