Senegal and Chad have reacted strongly to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks that African countries are ungrateful for France’s role in helping fight jihadist rebels.
On Monday, President Macron said Sahel states had “forgot” to appreciate France’s role amid the ongoing withdrawal of French troops from the West African country.
He said the Sahelian countries could not become sovereign without French intervention to prevent them from falling under the control of militants.
In response, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderrahman Kulamala said Macron’s comments showed contempt for Africa.
“Chad has expressed deep concern about the (French president’s) recent comments, which reflect a derogatory attitude towards Africa and Africans,” he said in a statement on state television.
“French leaders must learn to respect the African people and recognize the value of their sacrifices,” he said.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said France had previously contributed to destabilizing several African countries, including Libya, with “catastrophic consequences” for regional security.
“France has neither the ability nor the legitimacy to guarantee the security and sovereignty of Africa,” he said in a statement.
President Macron told the annual ambassador’s conference in Paris that France was reorganizing its strategic interests in the region and rejected the idea that it should withdraw from Africa.
In 2013, French troops were dispatched to Mali in response to Islamist rebels. A year later the mission expanded to other countries in the region, including Niger and Burkina Faso.
“We were right (to send troops). I think someone forgot to say thank you. It will be okay in time,” President Macron said on Monday.
“But I say this to all African heads of state who have not had the courage to hold such views in the face of public opinion: none of them would have been able to become sovereign states if French troops had not been stationed in the region.”
Sonko said Macron’s comments were “completely wrong” if Senegal decided to request the withdrawal of French troops.
He said there had been no negotiations with France regarding the move to close military bases in the country.
He said the decision came from “Senegal’s sole will as a free, independent and sovereign nation.”
Sonko and Koulamallah also mentioned the role of African soldiers in the liberation of France in World War II.
“If African soldiers, sometimes forcibly mobilized, abused and ultimately betrayed, had not been deployed to defend France during World War II, they would probably still be Germans today,” Sonko said.
Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast recently ended security agreements with France, while Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger ordered French troops to withdraw after the coup.
France’s influence in the region has been declining in recent years due to accusations of neo-colonialism and exploitative relations with former colonies.
Military-led governments in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso moved closer to Russia after France withdrew from their countries.
On Monday, Chad’s foreign minister said his country’s contribution to France was limited to “its own strategic interests” despite the country grappling with instability and other problems during their 60-year partnership.
Chad ended its defense pact with France last November, saying “it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnership in line with its national priorities.”
