ABSTRACT
The February 2008 international intervention in Chad unfolded within the context of France and Chad’s long-standing historical relationship, which, in many ways, delineates the limits and possibilities of peace operations in the region. Historically, the successive governments of France’s Fifth Republic engaged directly with African political actors, whether they were in power or aspiring to it. They worked in both official and unofficial capacities, with the aim of promoting France’s strategic, political, and economic interest. 1 Since decolonization, every French president has adhered to a framework set up by General de Gaulle and his adviser Jacques Foccart, which Tony Chafer has called the ‘African–Paris complex’, 2 known in France as the ‘iceberg’ 3 or ‘nébuleuse’ 4 (nebula) of Françafrique. Bilateral relationships between the French government and the newly independent African states in the so-called French pré carré (privileged sphere of influence) are still effective in Chad today. Their essential role in Chad’s current social and political situation is undeniable, particularly in Eastern Chad.
