Senegal and Chad have strongly criticized recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron, who accused some African leaders of “ingratitude” over the withdrawal of French troops. Macron claimed that the sovereignty of certain African nations depends on France’s military presence.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko refuted Macron’s statements, calling them “completely erroneous.” He stressed that Senegal made its decision to remove French troops independently, as a sovereign nation. Sonko also accused France of destabilizing African countries, referencing the situation in Libya.
Similarly, Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah denounced Macron’s remarks as “disrespectful” to Africans and highlighted Chad’s significant sacrifices during the World Wars. He argued that France’s military presence in Chad primarily serves French interests, rather than contributing to local development.
Chad has confirmed that the withdrawal of French forces is proceeding as planned, with the final troops set to leave by January 31, 2025.
These developments mark a growing strain in relations between France and its former African colonies as nations assert their sovereignty and reevaluate foreign military alliances.
