French President Emmanuel Macron has drawn sharp criticism from African leaders and left-wing politicians in France following remarks suggesting African nations “forgot to say thank you” for France’s military intervention against Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region.
Speaking to French ambassadors on Monday, Macron defended France’s decade-long deployment in West Africa, which began in 2013 under then-President François Hollande. The operations, Serval and later Barkhane, aimed to combat jihadist threats in the region, with 58 French soldiers losing their lives.
“We did the right thing,” Macron said, adding that “none” of the Sahel states would be sovereign today without France’s intervention. He also emphasized that France withdrew its troops due to military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, stating, “We are not the assistants of putschists.”
However, Macron’s comments, particularly his suggestion that gratitude would come “with time,” sparked outrage across the continent.
African Leaders Respond
Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno called Macron’s remarks “outrageous” and accused him of harboring “contempt for Africa and Africans.” Chad recently ended its military cooperation agreement with France, citing it as “obsolete.”
Chad’s acting Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah also criticized Macron’s “contemptuous attitude,” reminding France of Africa’s key role in its liberation during World Wars I and II.
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko echoed these sentiments, accusing France of destabilizing African nations, including Libya, and highlighting the sacrifices made by African soldiers during World War II. Senegal announced late last year that all foreign military presence, including French troops, would end by 2025.
Domestic Criticism in France
In France, the left-wing France Unbowed party condemned Macron’s remarks as “neo-colonial paternalism.” The party stated that his comments were “politically inconsistent” and risked further weakening France’s strained relations with West African nations.
A French diplomatic source later clarified that Macron’s comments were directed at countries that experienced coups, particularly Mali, and not at Chad or Senegal.
Declining French Influence
France has faced mounting challenges in maintaining influence in its former colonies, especially as countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have turned to Russia for security support following military takeovers. With Chad and Senegal also ending military agreements, France’s presence in the region continues to diminish.
As African nations assert their sovereignty and reject perceived neo-colonial attitudes, relations between France and its former colonies appear increasingly strained.
