Macron Levels Accusations of Ingratitude Against Former French Colonies
France's Macron has sparked controversy among multiple African nations by insisting on receiving gratitude for his country’s military operations in the Sahel region. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Chad and Senegal have responded strongly to recent comments from French President Emmanuel Macron, who criticized African nations for what he perceives as a lack of gratitude for France's military presence in the region.
During an annual French ambassadors’ conference, Macron stated that Paris was awaiting thanks from the Sahel states for its role in protecting them from militant threats. He defended France's interventions in the Sahel security crisis, asserting, “I think that they forgot to thank us, but that’s ok, it will come in time.” Furthermore, he claimed that no African nation France had supposedly assisted since its military campaign began in 2013 would have remained intact without French support. “None of them would have a sovereign state if the French army had not deployed in this region,” he said.
In response to these comments, Chad’s foreign minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, condemned Macron, stating that his remarks demonstrate “nothing but contempt.” He expressed that such comments reflect a “contemptuous attitude towards Africa and Africans” and emphasized the need for the French government to “learn to respect Africans.” Koulamallah added that France's presence in Chad has primarily focused on its own strategic interests, lacking a real, lasting impact on the development of the Chadian people.
Senegal's Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, also criticized Macron, asserting that “France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to assure Africa’s security or sovereignty.” He described the President's assertion about a military reorganization in the region as “completely false.” Sonko highlighted that Senegal’s decision to remove French troops from its territory is a reflection of its determination as an independent and sovereign nation.
France's military involvement in the Sahel began in 2013 in response to an Islamic insurgency in Mali. This led to the launch of Operation Barkhane in 2014, which included a deployment of 3,000 French troops. However, in recent years, several West African states, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have severed ties with France following military coups. Chad ended its defense cooperation agreement with France in November, and Senegal plans to close all French military bases by the end of 2025. Ivory Coast has also called for the withdrawal of French troops by January 1, signaling a broader regional reassessment of military relationships with former colonial powers.
Despite these developments, Macron rejected the notion that France is being forced out of the region, asserting, “No, France is not on the back foot in Africa, it is just lucid and reorganizing itself.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
During an annual French ambassadors’ conference, Macron stated that Paris was awaiting thanks from the Sahel states for its role in protecting them from militant threats. He defended France's interventions in the Sahel security crisis, asserting, “I think that they forgot to thank us, but that’s ok, it will come in time.” Furthermore, he claimed that no African nation France had supposedly assisted since its military campaign began in 2013 would have remained intact without French support. “None of them would have a sovereign state if the French army had not deployed in this region,” he said.
In response to these comments, Chad’s foreign minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, condemned Macron, stating that his remarks demonstrate “nothing but contempt.” He expressed that such comments reflect a “contemptuous attitude towards Africa and Africans” and emphasized the need for the French government to “learn to respect Africans.” Koulamallah added that France's presence in Chad has primarily focused on its own strategic interests, lacking a real, lasting impact on the development of the Chadian people.
Senegal's Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, also criticized Macron, asserting that “France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to assure Africa’s security or sovereignty.” He described the President's assertion about a military reorganization in the region as “completely false.” Sonko highlighted that Senegal’s decision to remove French troops from its territory is a reflection of its determination as an independent and sovereign nation.
France's military involvement in the Sahel began in 2013 in response to an Islamic insurgency in Mali. This led to the launch of Operation Barkhane in 2014, which included a deployment of 3,000 French troops. However, in recent years, several West African states, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have severed ties with France following military coups. Chad ended its defense cooperation agreement with France in November, and Senegal plans to close all French military bases by the end of 2025. Ivory Coast has also called for the withdrawal of French troops by January 1, signaling a broader regional reassessment of military relationships with former colonial powers.
Despite these developments, Macron rejected the notion that France is being forced out of the region, asserting, “No, France is not on the back foot in Africa, it is just lucid and reorganizing itself.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
