France hands over Second Army Base in Chad Amid Withdrawal

France on Saturday handed over its second army base in Chad as part of an agreement with the country's authorities to withdraw its military forces.

The central African country in late November ended military cooperation with its former colonial ruler, and French troops began leaving the country in late December. Around 100 troops left the Abeche base on Saturday, after equipment convoys departed Friday evening.

The French army had around 1,000 personnel in Chad. Defense Minister added that the January 31 deadline for France to remove forces for good was "imperative", "irreversible" and "non-negotiable".