French Jets Target Chadian Rebels to Prevent Deby Destabilization, Reports Reuters

By John Irish and Sophie Louet

PARIS (Reuters) – French warplanes successfully targeted approximately 20 pick-up trucks on Wednesday, marking the third day of air strikes against a convoy of Chadian rebels that had entered from Libya the previous week. The French military stated that the operation aims to prevent the destabilization of its former colony.

The air strikes, which commenced on Sunday, are a response to increased activity from Chadian rebels in southern Libya, who have expressed intentions to overthrow President Idriss Deby since last year. While strikes were conducted on Tuesday, operations did not take place on Monday.

The Union of Forces of Resistance (UFR), a coalition of Chadian rebels that formed in 2009 after a previous attempt to topple Deby, has taken responsibility for this week’s incursion, which involved around 50 vehicles traveling 400 kilometers into Chadian territory.

According to the French military, "The incursion of this armed column deep into Chadian territory was aimed at destabilizing this country."

The strikes, carried out by Mirage fighter jets, were conducted following a formal assistance request from Chad. The operations adhered to international humanitarian law, with the planes launching from the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, and supported by a Reaper drone.

A UFR representative confirmed the death of two of its fighters.

Deby has faced numerous rebellions since he came to power in a military coup in 1990. The integrity of elections that have facilitated his continued presidency has drawn international scrutiny, and he recently enacted constitutional reforms that could extend his rule until 2033.

France previously intervened in 2008 to prevent the UFR from ousting Deby; however, President Emmanuel Macron has signaled a desire to redefine France’s relationship with its former colonies, marking an end to the era of supporting longstanding leaders.

Despite this shift, France regards Chad as a vital ally due to its well-trained forces in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa. The country hosts France’s 4,500-strong counter-terrorism Operation Barkhane, with the United States also maintaining a presence there.

The French military noted that "the Chadian army is an essential partner in the fight against terrorism in Mali… and the G5 force’s actions against Boko Haram."

Chadian forces had previously attempted to dismantle the rebel convoy on February 1-2. Deby’s ongoing battle against Islamist militants has stretched his military resources and impacted the country’s oil-dependent economy, fuelling growing discontent among the population in one of the world’s poorest nations.