Macron made controversial statements regarding France’s military presence in Africa, stating, “We proposed to African heads of state to reorganise our presence [military]. As we are very polite, we let them announce it first.”
These words were widely perceived as dismissive and disrespectful, and in response, Chad’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abderaman Koulamallah, said it shows Macron’s contemptuous attitude toward Africa and Africans.
Koulamallah said in a statement broadcast on national television said, “The government of the Republic of Chad expresses its strong concern following the recent statements by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, which reflect a contemptuous attitude toward Africa and Africans.”
Similarly, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko dismissed Macron’s claims as “completely erroneous.”
He clarified that the withdrawal of French troops from Senegal was an independent decision, unrelated to any proposal from Paris.
“No discussion or negotiation has taken place to date, and Senegal’s decision stems solely from its own will as a free, independent, and sovereign country,” Sonko affirmed.
Sonko also criticised France’s role in Africa, saying, “France neither has the capacity nor the legitimacy to guarantee Africa’s security and sovereignty. On the contrary, it has often contributed to destabilizing countries like Libya, with disastrous consequences for the Sahel’s stability and security.”
The latest criticisms highlighted France’s waning influence in Africa.
Countries such as Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Tchad have since terminated military cooperation with France, reflecting a broader shift as African nations seek to redefine their security strategies, focusing on regional cooperation and self-reliance.
There was also outrage over Macron’s claim that African leaders forgot to “thank” France over its intervention “militarily in Africa against terrorism since 2013”.
Security analysts and locals argue that France’s interventions only worsened the security situation in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
