By John Irish and Tangi Salaün
PARIS, April 20 (Reuters) - Chad's longtime ruler President
Idriss Deby, a Western ally in the fight against Islamist
militants in Africa, was killed on the frontline against rebels
in the north. His main ally, France, has about 5,100 troops based across
the region as part of international efforts to fight Islamist
militants, including its main base in the Chadian capital
N'Djamena.
His death, which Paris described as the loss of a courageous
friend who had sought peace and stability for three decades,
poses questions on the future of France's regional operations.
WHY IS CHAD AN IMPORTANT ALLY TO WESTERN POWERS?
Nestled in between Libya, Niger, Central African Republic,
Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon, Chad is a strategic outpost for
France and the United States in the fight against Islamist
militants across the Sahel and Boko Haram in Nigeria as well as
for monitoring political instability in neighbouring countries.
Deby has in recent years stepped into a void left by
Africa's traditional heavyweights and turned his desert nation
into a powerbroker as France sought to disengage from its former
colonies, most notably after a rebellion in Central African
Republic in 2013.
Highlighting his importance, in February 2019, French
warplanes and drones struck Chadian rebels advancing on the
capital to ensure its interests were not put at risk during a
critical stage in operations against Islamist militants in the
region. Sources said Paris would only intervene directly again
if those interests were put in danger.
France provided intelligence and logistical support against
a new rebellion launched this month, but stopped short of direct
action amid growing unease in French domestic political circles
at the prospect of Deby winning re-election for a sixth time,
extending his 30 years in power.
HOW EFFECTIVE HAS CHAD BEEN IN FIGHT AGAINST ISLAMISTS?
Chadian troops were in 2020 mostly engaged in fighting
insurgents from Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa
in the Lake Chad region.
Chad's armed forces are among the most respected and battle
hardened in West Africa. That reputation was forged after 2,000
troops took part in a French-led mission in 2013 to hunt down al
Qaeda fighters in the deserts of northern Mali marking Chad out
as the only African nation to quickly deploy an effective
fighting force.
However, there have been concerns over discipline and
accusations of acts against civilians in during their
operations.
The deployment of a battalion of 1,500 men to the tri-border
theatre between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger earlier this year
was seen as a vital to enable French and other forces to
re-orient their military mission to central Mali and to target
Islamist leaders linked to al Qaeda.
France has bet on local forces eventually taking control of
their own security to withdraw its 5,100 troops from the region.
WHAT MILITARY ASSETS DOES FRANCE, ALLIES HAVE IN CHAD?
Chad's capital N'Djamena is the central command hub for
France's Barkhane counter-terrorism operation for the West
Africa region. Just under 1,000 troops are based there along
with a few Mirage 2000 fighter jets.
The G5 Sahel, which brings together troops from Chad, Niger,
Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, has its command centre in the
previous headquarters of France's Epervier mission from the
1980s, when Paris supported Chad against a Libyan offensive on
the country.
As well as its main operations, France has two forward
operating bases in Faya-Largeau in the centre of the country
with one eye on the northern border with Libya and Abeche near
the borders with Sudan and Central African Republic.
The United States also has had a small military presence in
the country to help in training, equipping and capacity
building. A U.S. official said there have been less than 70 US
military personnel in the country.
WHAT WILL BE THE IMMEDIATE CONCERNS FOR FRANCE/ALLIES?
France and its allies will be looking to see how the political
handover happens in the coming days. With Deby technically still
president for the next few weeks, the head of the National
Assembly should have taken over. However, with the military
announcing Deby's son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, also know as
Kaka, as interim president that could lead to a further
destabilisation in the capital. ID:P6N2K102G
All eyes will also turn to the rebel Front for Change and
Concord in Chad (FACT), which had embarked on the offensive
against Deby. If the advance were to gather steam now, that
could force Paris' hands, although it will seek to avoid
intervening directly given the general uncertainty and impact it
could have on the wider Sahel operations.
With possible panic setting in the capital, there will also
be concerns that a new humanitarian and refugee crisis beginning
should people start converging from N'Djamena to the Cameroon
border
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Chad leader Deby, key Western ally, killed in battle
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Idriss Deby, Chad's president and West's ally against Islamists
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(Writing by John Irish; Editing by Angus MacSwan)