The key to security in the Sahel.
The key to security in the Sahel.
By Erkin Feyyaz Eşli
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Brigade General Amin Ahmed Idriss, Commander of the Chadian Air Force, began his official visit to Türkiye at the head of the Chadian delegation, marking an important step in strengthening military ties between Chad and Türkiye. The visit is taking place against the backdrop of the adjustment of Chad’s military alliances after the termination of military agreements with France and the final withdrawal of the French military contingent from the country, as well as remarkable tension in relations with the United Arab Emirates.
While in Ankara, General Idriss and his delegation were received by General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Commander of the Türkiye’s Air Force, the Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense said.
According to military sources, the purpose of the trip is, in particular, to evaluate and monitor the program for the acquisition of Türkiye’s military equipment, including drones and aircraft. In addition, the parties have discussed the possibility of transferring the Amdjarass base in eastern Chad to the Türkiye’s Air Force. This initiative is an important component of modernizing the Chadian Air Force in the face of growing security threats.
Moreover, the Chadian delegation intends to explore the military training opportunities offered by Türkiye and to consider programs that may be useful for Chadian Air Force personnel. These training courses could cover a variety of fields, from piloting to aircraft maintenance, in order to strengthen the technical and operational skills of the Chadian forces.
At present, Türkiye has the right to operate three former French military bases in Chad: Abéché in the east, Faya-Largeau in the north and Adji Kossei in the west. The relevant agreement was signed by the parties on January 16 this year. The prospects for the deployment of the Türkiye’s Air Force at the base in Amdjarass open up new opportunities for stabilizing the situation in the region.
Currently, eastern Chad has found itself at the center of regional tensions due to the raging civil war in neighboring Sudan, creating significant security threats in the border areas. Militants from Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are making unauthorized crossings of the Chad-Sudan border, carrying out sporadic attacks on local residents, law enforcement personnel, and large Sudanese refugee camps located in eastern Chad.
The presence of Türkiye’s military specialists in Abéché is contributing to the enhancement of the Chadian Air Force’s operational and tactical capabilities in border patrols with Sudan, using Türkiye’s unmanned aerial vehicles. In recent months, Chadian forces, with the assistance of Türkiye’s instructors, have widely deployed Bayraktar TB2 attack drones and Anka reconnaissance drones to prevent illegal crossings of the Chad-Sudan border and weapons smuggling.
It is worth mentioning that the provinces of Ouaddaï and Ennedi Est in eastern Chad have become notorious due to the fact that these territories have become a transit point for military support and logistical supplies for the Sudanese RSF coming from the UAE. The Sudanese government of Al-Burhan is accusing the Chadian authorities of assisting the Emirates in these supplies. In its turn, Chad is officially denying its support for the Emirati military assistance to the RSF.
The Türkiye’s military presence in eastern Chad is intended to prevent the transit of weapons and ammunition to Sudanese militants, thereby contributing to the resolution of the Sudanese conflict. The deployment of advanced Türkiye’s weapons in Abéché and Amdjarass could ensure the integrity and full control of the Chadian-Sudanese border, as well as eliminate any allegations against the Chadian government of maintaining the Sudanese Rapid Support Force.