The Washington Post quoted a French official as saying that the Chadian forces participating in a military alliance in African countries may return to their country, due to the security conditions created by the killing of the late President Idriss Deby, who assumed power in the country for nearly 30 years.
The same official explained to the newspaper that Chadian forces may return to their country in order to protect the capital after the death of Déby.
It is known that the Chadian rebels are threatening to advance to the capital and overthrow the new authority that was announced after the death of Déby.
Some African officials fear that the "Barkhane" military operation - led by France in the Sahel and Sahara region - will become more difficult if Chad's participation in it diminishes militarily, especially since N'Djamena was the first to send soldiers to Mali after France in 2014.
Deby ruled Chad for more than 30 years and succeeded in seizing power despite the rebellions that reached the gates of his palace.
We will not allow Chad to be threatened
In the same context, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that no one would be allowed to threaten Chad, while participating in the funeral of the country's president, Idriss Deby, who was killed on the front line while confronting rebels this week.
"We will not allow anyone to threaten Chad's stability and territorial integrity, neither today nor tomorrow," Macron said - in a speech at Deby's funeral.
A French presidency source told Reuters on Friday that France and the other five major countries have generally shown support for a civilian-military transfer of power in Chad in favor of regional stability, after a meeting with the temporary military council in Chad.
After Déby was killed, France expressed on several occasions its concern about "Chad's stability and territorial integrity."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian asked Thursday: "Will the Transitional Military Council guarantee the stability, unity and territorial integrity of Chad?"
He also questioned his ability to "implement a democratic process" while respecting his military commitments in the region.
European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell made the same remarks, and said - during a visit to Mauritania on Thursday before heading to Chad to attend the funeral of Idriss Deby - "We must help Chad, we must ignore political considerations."
The funeral ceremony
The body of Deby, who was killed in armed confrontations with rebels in the Kanem region (northwest of the country), was buried in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, on Friday, and before the funeral, the leaders of the Sahel Group and France expressed their support for the transition process in the country.
The official funeral was attended by Idriss Deby (68 years), a number of heads of countries neighboring Chad and some foreign delegations, most notably French President Emmanuel Macron.
The French Press Agency reported that 12 heads of state participated in the funeral, including the leaders of the member states of the Sahel group (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania), in addition to the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
In their speeches at the funeral, the presidents - including President Macron - affirmed their support for Chad, and that they appreciated its role in the Sahel region with the participation of its army in the efforts of armed organizations that were described as terrorist.