Chad’s foreign minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, accused French President Emmanuel Macron of showing disdain for Africa after Macron suggested that African leaders had “forgotten to say thank you” for France’s military efforts against insurgencies in the Sahel.
Koulamallah expressed concern over Macron’s remarks, calling them a reflection of a contemptuous attitude toward Africa. Speaking on state television, he emphasised the need for mutual respect, stating that French leaders must learn to respect Africans.
He highlighted the key role Africa, and Chad, in particular, played in France’s liberation during the world wars, a contribution he said France has never truly recognised. Koulamallah also criticised France for prioritising its strategic interests in Chad without fostering long-term development for its people.
Chad recently ended its defence agreements with France, deeming them obsolete. Around 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad are now being withdrawn, marking the latest shift in France’s military presence in Africa.
Macron’s comments, made during a speech to French diplomats, came as France reevaluates its role in Africa following the expulsion of French forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger by governments critical of Paris. Senegal and the Ivory Coast have also requested the removal of French military bases.
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, joined the criticism, rejecting Macron’s assertion that African leaders owe their positions to French military support. “France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to assure Africa’s security or sovereignty,” Sonko stated on social media, refuting claims of ongoing negotiations about France’s military withdrawal.
