Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs posted photos on X of Deby Itno arriving at Budapest airport.

During his state visit, he is expected to meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who invited him. Press reports suggest the leaders are due to discuss a security agreement.

Relations between Hungary and Chad have developed rapidly over the past year, Budapest opening a humanitarian and development centre and a diplomatic mission in the capital N'Djamena.

The two countries have also signed cooperation deals on agriculture and education.

And in autumn 2023, Budapest said it wanted to deploy an independent military mission of 200 soldiers to Chad to train local forces and fight terrorism.

Questioned about its mission, Hungary, which remains close to the Kremlin, has denied it "represents Russian or any other foreign interests in the Sahel".

Russia has a strong presence in countries bordering Chad, such as the Central African Republic and Libya, including fighters from the Wagner mercenary force.

Landlocked Chad is the last Sahel country to host French soldiers after Paris had had to pull out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years.

Sources in June told AFP that Paris was planning to cut back its presence there from 1,000 military personnel to around 300.

ros-kym/jj

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