Chadians take to the streets in anti-French protests
Deby’s son Mahamat Idriss is leading the military transition which is yet to timetable a return to constitutional rule.
“We are demonstrating against France for its support for the transitional military council,” said Mahmoud Moussa, a high school teacher in the Chadian capital who joined the protest.
A spokesman for the transitional government could not be reached for comment.
Protesters vandalised several petrol stations in N’djamena operated by French oil major TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA). Some torched French flags, while a Russian flag was hoisted on a mast in central N’djamena, according to a Reuters reporter.
As France’s influence wanes in its former colonies, recent protests in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have seen calls for increased military ties with Russia instead of France.
Chad is seen as a strong ally of the west in the fight against Islamist militants in the region. Several Western countries, including France, maintain troops at bases in the country.
Chad’s capital is the central command hub for France’s counter-terrorism operation for the West Africa region. Around French 1,000 troops are based there.
The French embassy in N’djamena was not immediately available to comment on the protest.
Last week, the embassy denied a rumor that France was planning to install new French military bases in Chad, calling it an attempt at misinformation.
