African governments and activists have strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron over recent comments about France’s military role in Africa.
Speaking at a conference with French ambassadors in Paris, Macron claimed that the sovereignty of Sahel nations battling Islamist extremism was largely due to the deployment of French forces.
He dismissed the idea that French troops had been expelled from the region, saying their departure was tied to political instability and military coups.
Macron argued that the French army’s involvement since 2013 had safeguarded the sovereignty of countries in the Sahel region, which lies just below the Sahara Desert.
The French president also lamented what he described as “ingratitude” from African leaders, saying it stemmed from misunderstandings about France’s efforts against terrorism. His remarks were widely viewed as dismissive and sparked sharp reactions across Africa.
Chad’s foreign affairs minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, accused Macron of showing contempt for Africa, highlighting that France’s military contributions were often driven by strategic interests rather than support for African development.
Koulamallah emphasized that France had made limited contributions to strengthening Chad’s army or addressing its structural challenges, despite decades of instability in the country.
Chad announced in November it was ending its defense cooperation with France, a move seen as part of a broader push to reassert sovereignty.
Similarly, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko rejected Macron’s claims, stating that Senegal’s decision to close foreign military bases, including French ones, was made independently as a sovereign nation.
In recent years, French troops have withdrawn from several West African nations, including Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, following a series of coups. Anti-French sentiment has grown in these countries, with accusations that Paris continues to exercise neo-colonial influence. Macron, however, insisted that France’s role in Africa was not in decline but undergoing “reorganization.”
Activists and analysts have criticized this rhetoric as paternalistic. Togolese writer and activist Farida Bemba Nabourema described Macron’s comments as rooted in the racism and colonial attitudes that once justified European domination in Africa.
She argued that such views undermine African nations’ ability to govern themselves and perpetuate neo-colonialism.
Amid tensions with France, some Sahel nations have turned to Russia for military partnerships.
Junta-led governments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have signed agreements with Moscow, bringing in military instructors from the Wagner Group, a controversial private mercenary organization.
Wagner forces have also reportedly expanded their presence in Equatorial Guinea, where they are tasked with protecting President Teodoro Obiang’s regime.
Similar activities have been observed in the Central African Republic, where Wagner has become a dominant foreign force.
Macron’s remarks have added fuel to the growing debate about foreign influence in Africa, as nations in the region increasingly assert their independence and seek new alliances beyond traditional Western partners.
