Chad's government has ended its defense cooperation pact with France, the central African country's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, a move that will require French troops to leave the country.

The statement said Chad, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the region, wanted to fully assert its sovereignty after 66 years of independence.

It said the decision to end the defense cooperation agreement revised in 2019 would enable it to redefine its strategic partnerships. Chad has cooperated closely with Western militaries in the past, but moved closer to Russia in recent years.

"In accordance with the terms of the accord, Chad will respect the modalities of the termination including the necessary deadlines, and will collaborate with French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition," the statement said.

It added that the decision in no way questioned Chad's relations with France.

The French Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was in Chad on Thursday visiting the border with Sudan.

There were no indications that Paris had been given advance notice of the decision, although a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron this week handed in a report with proposals on how France could reduce its military presence in Chad, Gabon and Ivory Coast, where it has had thousands of troops for decades.

France currently has around 1,000 troops as well as warplanes stationed in Chad.