Macron accused of being 'contemptuous' about Africa's views

Senegal and Chad have reacted strongly to comments by French President Emmanuel Macron about African countries being unhappy about France's role in helping to fight against militant jihadist terrorism.

On Monday, Macron said the Sahel says it “forgot” to thank France for its role, amid the withdrawal of French troops from West African countries.

He said that no Sahelian country would be a sovereign country without France's intervention to prevent them from being controlled by terrorists.

In response, Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said that Macron's comments showed his contempt for Africa.

“Chad expresses its deep concern after the comments made by (the French president) recently, which show a contemptuous view of Africa and Africans,” he said in a statement on national television.

He said: “French leaders must learn to respect the African people and recognize the value of their sacrifices”.

The Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, said that in the past France had contributed to the “disassembly of some African countries such as Libya” which had “disastrous consequences” for the security of the region.

“France does not have the ability or the legitimacy to ensure the security and sovereignty of Africa,” he said in a statement.

Macron made his comments at an annual conference of ambassadors in Paris, saying France was reorganizing its strategic interests in the region and rejected the idea that it had been forced to withdraw from Africa. .

French troops were sent to Mali in 2013 in response to an Islamist insurgency. A year later the mission was expanded to include other countries in the region, including Niger and Burkina Faso.

“We were right (to use it). I think someone forgot to thank you. It's okay that it will come with time,” Macron said on Monday.

“But I say this for all the heads of state in Africa who did not have the courage to hold that view against public opinion. None of these would be sovereign countries today if the French army had not been sent into the region. “

Sonko, regarding Senegal's decision to ask French troops to leave, said Macron's comments were “absolutely wrong”.

He said that there had been no negotiation with France regarding the move to close their military bases in the country.

He said and the decision had come from “the sole will of Senegal as a free, independent and sovereign country”.

Both Sonko and Koulamallah also mentioned the role of African soldiers in the liberation of France in the great wars.

“If African soldiers, sometimes forcibly displaced, mistreated and eventually betrayed, had not been used during the Second World War to defend France, it would have been a German -today,” said Sonko.

Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast have recently ended security agreements with France – while Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have told French troops to leave after coups.

France's influence in the region has been on the wane in recent years, amid accusations of neo-colonialism and treasonous relations with its former colonies.

The junta-led governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have moved closer to Russia after France pulled out of their countries.

On Monday, Chad's foreign minister said France's contribution in the country was limited to “its own strategic interests” even as Chad grappled with instability and other issues during the their 60-year partnership.

Chad terminated its defense agreement with France in November, saying it was time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities”.