“” We had a security relationship. (…) A part was our commitment to terrorism since 2013. We were right. I think we forgot to say thank you. It doesn’t matter, it will come over time. Ingratitude, I am well placed to know, it is a disease not transmitted to man »» : the words, formulated by Emmanuel Macron January 6 at the 30th Ambassadors’ Conference, continue to raise strong reactions to West Africa. If these words from the President of the Republic Referred to French military interventions against terrorism, carried out at the request of African governments, several countries concerned have seen a form of paternalism or neocolonialism.
Thus, this January 13, the Head of the Burkina Faso junta, Ibrahim Traoré, considered that Emmanuel Macron had ” Insulted all Africans “” ” We are not humans in his eyes “, Denounced the leader, during a greeting ceremony in Ouagadougou.
Similarly, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno wanted to express his indignation in the aftermath of the speech of the French head of state, pointing out declarations “Who borders on contempt for Africa and Africans”. In Chad, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abderaman Koulamallah, also reacted strongly to the antenna of state television, castigating the ” contemptuous attitude »From the French President “With regard to Africa and Africans”. “” Instead of attacking Africa, President Macron should concentrate his efforts on solving the problems that concern the French people »»,, he launched.
Same indignation in Senegal, where Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, denounced affirmations on January 6 “Totally wrong” On the part of President Macron, while returning to the intervention of the 2011 French army in Libya, having caused the fall of the Gaddafi regime. “France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa its security and its sovereignty. On the contrary, it has often helped to destabilize certain African countries such as Libya with disastrous consequences noted on the stability and security of the Sahel ”he said on his account X.
“France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa its security and its sovereignty”
While Emmanuel Macron said that France had consented the premiere of the announcement of the departure of French troops to African countries after negotiations with them, the Senegalese and Chadian leaders rose to the niche to contradict these words. According to Ousmane Sonko,, “In the case of Senegal (…) No discussion or negotiation has taken place to date and the decision taken by Senegal is based on its sole will, as a free, independent and sovereign country. »». An affirmation taken up by the Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, for whom “The decision to start French troops from Chad is a sovereign decision, which has never been negotiated with anyone, neither with French leaders, nor with President Macron. »»
Towards an “unprecedented relationship” with African countries
These multiple criticisms are part of a context of French military reflux on the continent. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, governed by hostile putschists in Paris, obtained between 2022 and 2023 the departure of French soldiers from their territories. Chad, the last point of anchoring of France in the Sahel, denounced the military cooperation agreement with Paris and demanded a departure by the end of January of French troops, while Senegal requested the closure of the French bases, according to a calendar remaining to be defined. France must also gradually withdraw its soldiers from Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon, two countries with which it maintains good relations. The only French base that will remain on the African continent will be that of Djibouti, where the largest French contingent is located (1,500 men).
While a certain number of analysts invite not to overestimate the impact of these military withdrawals on the influence of France on the continent, the President of the Republic has promised to“Invent new relationships” with African nations, taking for example the “Unpublished relationship” established with Benin and the initiation of a “Strategic dialogue” with Nigeria.
