French ends military presence in Sahel region with handover of last base in Chad

The French army has handed over its last base in Chad in a military ceremony in the capital N’Djamena, marking the end of French military presence in the country. Once a key had link in France’s military presence in Africa, Chad was France’s last foothold in the wider Sahel region after the forced withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.