France has said it will keep its 1,000 troops in junta-run Chad amid waning French influence after it was ousted from several African countries over the past few years, just as apparent calm has returned to Chad’s capital N’Djamena following the assassination of an opposition leader. The envoy also said he conveyed Paris’ “admiration” to Deby Itno for the country’s transition to civilian rule after he took power following his father’s three-decade iron-fisted rule. All three military-run governments also formed a military alliance, and declared a number of economic steps revoking previous French exploitation of their countries’ resources. Meanwhile, Deby Itno has announced he planned to run in this year’s long-delayed presidential race days after his main opponent was killed in murky circumstances. The authorities have also confirmed that Deby’s uncle, Gen Saleh Deby Itno, had been arrested in the wake of the recent events.
