Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s perceived disrespect towards African leaders during an ambassadors’ conference. Macron defended France’s military interventions in Africa since 2013, suggesting African leaders should express gratitude for France’s efforts. Koulamallah countered that France must respect African nations, emphasizing their historical contributions. As France withdraws troops from various African countries due to political changes, Macron acknowledged the need to adapt military presence in response to evolving dynamics in the region.
Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah has voiced strong opposition to what he describes as the ‘contemptuous attitude‘ displayed by French President Emmanuel Macron towards African leaders. This statement was made during the annual ambassadors’ conference held earlier today at the Élysée Palace.
During the conference, Macron elaborated on France’s foreign policy plans for the upcoming months, asserting that France was ‘right‘ to intervene in Africa ‘against terrorism since 2013‘. He suggested that African leaders ‘forgot to say thank you‘ for France’s involvement. With a hint of sarcasm, he remarked, ‘It’s not a big deal, it will come with time‘, and he criticized these leaders for their apparent reluctance to express gratitude, suggesting that ‘none of them would be today with a sovereign country if the French army had not deployed in this region‘.
Respect for African Nations is Essential
In a statement broadcast on state television, Koulamallah expressed the Chadian government’s serious concerns over Macron’s remarks, highlighting that they reflect a ‘contemptuous attitude‘ towards Africa and its people. He emphasized that while he has no issues with France, ‘French leaders must learn to respect the African people‘. He also pointed out Africa’s ‘crucial role‘ in liberating France during the world wars, an acknowledgment that he feels has been inadequately recognized, alongside the ‘sacrifices made by African soldiers‘.
France’s Military Engagement in Africa
For the past decade, France has been actively involved in military operations in the Sahel region, targeting jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State through operations like Serval and Barkhane, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of 58 French soldiers. However, the recent political shifts leading to military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have forced France to withdraw its troops from these nations between 2022 and 2023.
Macron clarified, ‘We left because there were coups d’état, as we were invited by sovereign states that requested France’s presence‘. He further asserted that ‘France no longer had its place there because we are not the auxiliaries of coup leaders‘, stressing that ‘dialogue with Africa cannot be held hostage to a well-meaning, contemporary pan-Africanism that somehow uses a post-colonial discourse‘.
Additionally, a contingent of French soldiers departed Chad at the end of December, following a similar request made by Senegal in late November, indicating a significant reorganization of French military presence in the region. Macron stated, ‘We proposed to African heads of state to reorganize our military presence‘, acknowledging the challenges posed by those who are resistant to change or who cling to established interests.