Chad’s government says it is ending a defense cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, to redefine the nation's sovereignty.

Chad's government said on Thursday it has ended its defence cooperation pact with France, a move that could see French troops leave the Central African country.

Chad, a former African colony of France, has for decades been central to its military operations in Africa, but it is developing closer ties to Russia amid the NATO war with Russia in Ukraine.

The decision by Chad is another blow to what remained of France’s military influence in the troubled stretch of countries below the Sahara, where Russia’s influence has been growing.

France said on Friday it took note of a decision by Chad to end its defence cooperation with Paris and would now work with it to implement the decision, the foreign ministry said.

"After 66 years since the independence of the Republic of Chad, it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty, and to redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities," Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement late Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron poses with Chad's President General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno at the 19th Francophonie Summit of French-speaking nations in the castle of Villers-Cotterets, France, October 4,

The decision requires France to withdraw its troops from the central African nation and echoes growing anti-French sentiment with civil society groups who say it is long overdue. Deby said military ties with France that have existed for close to 65 years are in no way helping to rescue Chad from what he calls growing security challenges,

Deby stated that the agreement no longer served Chad's security or geopolitical interests. Despite over a decade of fighting a jihadist insurgency, support from French and U.S. troops has not succeeded in stabilizing the country.