France has started withdrawing its military from Chad, with the departure of two warplanes that were based in the capital N’Djamena.

This comes two weeks after Chad said it was ending its defence cooperation pact with Paris.

According to France Army spokesperson, Colonel Guillaume Vernet, the move marks the beginning of the return of French equipment stationed in N’Djamena.

France has already pulled its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following military coups in those West African countries and spreading anti-French sentiment.