₦airaland Forum

Senegal and Chad have reacted strongly to remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron about African countries being ungrateful over France's role in helping fight militant jihadist insurgencies.

On Monday, Macron said that Sahel states "forgot" to thank France for its role, amid the continuing withdrawal of French troops from West African countries.

He said no Sahelian nation would be a sovereign nation without France's intervention that prevented them from falling under the control of militants.

In response, Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said Macron comments had revealed his contempt for Africa.
"Chad expresses its deep concern following the remarks made recently by [the French president], which reflect a contemptuous attitude towards Africa and Africans," he said in a statement on national TV.

He said "French leaders must learn to respect the African people and recognise the value of their sacrifices".
Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said France had in the past contributed to "destabilising certain African countries such as Libya" which had "disastrous consequences" for the region's security.

"France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa's security and sovereignty," he said in a statement.

Macron made his comments at an annual ambassadors' conference in Paris, saying France was reorganising 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 extended to take in other countries in the region, including Niger and Burkina Faso.

"We were right [to deploy]. I think someone forgot to say thank you. It's ok it will come with time," Macron said on Monday.

"But I say this for all the African heads of state who have not had the courage in the face of public opinion to hold that view. None of them would be a sovereign country today if the French army hadn't deployed in the region."

Sonko said that in the case of Senegal's decision to ask French troops to leave, Macron's remarks were "totally wrong".

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

He said and the decision had stemmed from Senegal's "sole will as a free, independent and sovereign country".

Both Sonko and Koulamallah also cited the role of African soldiers towards the liberation of France in the world wars.

"Had African soldiers, sometimes forcibly mobilised, mistreated and ultimately betrayed, not been deployed during the Second World War to defend France, it would, perhaps still be German today," Sonko said.

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

France's influence in the region has been waning in recent years, amid accusations of neo-colonialism and exploitative relationships with their former colonies.

The junta-led governments in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have moved closer to Russia after the French withdrawal from 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 had grappled with instability and other issues during their 60- year partnership.

Chad ended its defence 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".

Believable!

Strongly agreed

Emmanuel macaroni....useless terrorist sympathizer....

Prof lumumba said until Africa has a nuclear potential, the West can always feel Africa is their dumpster

Nice response

mcjohny:
Prof lumumba said until Africa has a nuclear potential, the West can always feel Africa is their dumpster

Nuke only saves a country from invasion, it does not bestow wealth or economic posperity on a country.
A good example is nuclear armed Pakistan with a poor economy.

Xisnin:
Nuke only saves a country from invasion, it does not bestow wealth or economic posperity on a country.
A good example is nuclear armed Pakistan with a poor economy.

But they're sovereign nation
No- neo colonialism

mcjohny:
But they're sovereign nation
No- neo colonialism

It depends on what you mean by "sovereign".
Pakistan regularly receives foreign aid from the west and the west does not give aid for free.

The fact that a country won't be invaded is mostly useless to the citizens.
The average person just want to improve their lives and that of their family,
not brag about nuclear warheads.

BTW, I doubt if there are up to 10 countries in the world that is practically free from foreign influence aka neocolonialism.
Majority are either in one camp or the other. Even the ones whose leaders are bragging on TV for being "free".
That is just the fact of nation states.

Xisnin:
It depends on what you mean by "sovereign".
Pakistan regularly receives foreign aid from the west and the west does not give aid for free.

The fact that a country won't be invaded is mostly useless to the citizens.
The average person just want to improve their lives and that of their family,
not brag about nuclear warheads.

BTW, I doubt if there are up to 10 countries in the world that is practically free from foreign influence aka neocolonialism.
Majority are either in one camp or the other. Even the ones whose leaders are bragging on TV for being "free".
That is just the fact of nation states.

Yes,you are probably right to an extent but imagine the western influence in Africa.
Maybe especially that of France in underdeveloping Africa and undermining progress and it's possibilities is alarming unlike any other nation

Lol
Small nyash dey shake on🥲