Defence Part 2
The New Framework in France Africa Defence Relations- Part 2
Chad:The Sahara Desert sheild
The republic of Chad by virtue of its landlocked nature is the most important base in the sahara desert.Again in terms of warfare,the Chadian army is the most experienced army in the region due to the culture of civil wars in the 1970s and with the presence of bases in Faya-Largeau,Abeché and N'Djamena.A presence that is backed with the possession of a modern air defence system,tanks,light armoured vehicles,trucks, missiles and military drones capable of monitoring threats to national security, contributed to the emergence of Chad as a desert stronghold.
The Geostrategic dimension of Djibouti
Djibouti in the horn of Africa is famous for its strategic location and constitute another element in the geography of post-colonial defence pacts.It was this military base that hosted the command and communication points during the operation code named Sagittaire in April 2023.This base served as a landing point for helicopters,naval vessels and armoured equipment from France as the crisis in Sudan was sight.It served as a registration point for civilians evacuated from Sudan during the conflict between the two Generals. As a screening point for French citizens and other nationals and as a departure point for the people evacuated from Sudan to the EU and the Middle East.
New Defence Partners
The talks between president Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin and the French president in the course of the 2022 visit to Benin,opened a new chapter in the area of defence co-operation between the two countries.Because the government of Benin requested assistance to enable the administration to revamp the equipment of the police and to deepen security information sharing ties between the two services. A model exposed at the 2023 conference of ambassadors around the idea of a formal request by partner countries, for training,equipment supply and regional cooperation.Kenya and Uganda,two countries that never witnessed French colonisation in East Africa are the first participants in this new form of France-Africa defence partnership.
