Senegal and Chad have strongly rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron following his comments about African nations allegedly failing to express gratitude for France’s assistance in combating militant jihadist insurgencies.
In a statement on Monday, Macron claimed that Sahelian countries “forgot” to thank France for its role in safeguarding their sovereignty amid the ongoing withdrawal of French troops from the region. He emphasized that without France’s intervention, these nations would have fallen under the control of militants.
Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, responded by accusing Macron of showing disdain for Africa, stating, “Chad expresses its deep concern over the remarks, which reflect a contemptuous attitude towards Africa and its people.” He further urged French leaders to respect African nations and acknowledge their sacrifices.
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, took a similar stance, asserting that France’s past actions, such as destabilizing Libya, had serious negative consequences for regional security. “France lacks the capacity and legitimacy to safeguard Africa’s security and sovereignty,” Sonko remarked.
Macron made these controversial remarks during an annual ambassadors’ conference in Paris, where he discussed France’s reevaluation of its strategic interests in the region, emphasizing that the withdrawal was not due to external pressure. French military operations began in Mali in 2013 to combat an Islamist insurgency and expanded to other Sahel countries, including Niger and Burkina Faso.
“We were right to deploy. I think someone forgot to say thank you. But it will come with time,” Macron said, adding, “None of these countries would be sovereign today if the French army had not intervened.”
Sonko rejected this narrative in the case of Senegal, stating that the decision to remove French troops was made unilaterally by Senegal as a sovereign nation, not through negotiations with France. Both Sonko and Koulamallah pointed out the historical contributions of African soldiers in defending France during the world wars, with Sonko remarking, “Had African soldiers, sometimes forcibly mobilized and mistreated, not fought for France during the Second World War, it might still be German today.”
In recent months, several African nations, including Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, have terminated security agreements with France, while the junta governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French troops following military coups. These actions highlight the growing influence of Russia in the region, particularly following France’s withdrawal.
Chad’s Foreign Minister also noted that France’s presence in the country had primarily served its own strategic interests, despite the long-standing partnership. Chad ended its defense agreement with France in November, signaling a shift towards asserting full sovereignty and reevaluating international relationships based on national priorities.
