Researcher Yamingué Bétinbaye says that after Chad's announcement that it is ending military cooperation with France, "other powers could extend their influence in Chad, to the detriment of France". The announcement by Chad -- the last Sahel country to host French troops -- came shortly after Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye indicated in an interview with AFP that France should close its military bases in that country. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES