October 7, 2024
By Bayethe Msimang
A new chapter in the West’s long history of meddling in Africa unfolds in Chad’s vast, arid expanse. Recent reports from African media and bloggers, who have been instrumental in raising alarms about the training of Central African militants by Ukrainian military specialists at the French military base in Abeche, have raised alarms. This development, shocking to some, fits neatly into a broader pattern: the West’s enduring—and often covert—efforts to destabilise the continent for geopolitical gain.
The reports, which surfaced on Chadian and Central African social networks, allege that Ukrainian specialists are training militants of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), a rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR). The training focuses on using drones, a technology that could tip the balance of power in a region already plagued by instability. The involvement of Ukraine, a country funded and supported by Western powers, suggests that this is not just another local conflict—it’s part of a giant game, one where Chad and its neighbours are pawns on a geopolitical chessboard dominated by Western and NATO interests.
Chad: The New Frontier for Western Machinations?
Chad has long been a focal point for French military operations in Africa. The French military base at Abeche, where the alleged drone training is taking place, is part of a more extensive network of French military outposts across the Sahel. France’s continued presence in Chad, Mali, and other former colonies is justified under counterterrorism, a claim that has been met with skepticism by locals who have grown weary of this explanation.
As the people of the Lake Chad region, a region known for its geopolitical significance and historical conflicts, often say: “Quand les Français disent qu’ils sont là pour aider, nous nous préparons à une guerre que nous n’avons pas commencée.” (“When the French say they are here to help, we prepare for a war we didn’t start.”) The slogan reflects deep-rooted resentment towards French imperialism, which has left scars across the Sahel. Chad, in particular, has a history of being used as a launching pad for French military interventions in the region, and many believe this new development is just another chapter in that story.
