Africans Rebuke French President for ‘Derogatory’ Remarks

French President Emmanuel Macron has received backlash from some African countries and a non-governmental organisation after he said France was awaiting “a thank you” from African countries for helping them counter jihadists.

Macron said Africans are ungrateful for the role France has played in combating terrorism. The remarks came as several former French colonies in West and Central Africa have asked French soldiers to leave their territories.

‘Derogatory and Disrespectful’ Remarks About Africa

The Cameroonian-based organisation, Movement for Patriotism and People’s Prosperity, has rubbished President Macron’s remarks.

In a press release on January 8, the organisation said remarks were “derogatory and disrespectful.”.

During the conference of French ambassadors on Monday, Macron said African countries forgot to thank France for helping them combat jihadists.

He added that former French colonies in Africa are sovereign today because of the role French soldiers played in combating jihadists.

This is mostly for West and Central African states.

Many Africans did not appreciate Macron’s statement.

“The movement for patriotism and people’s prosperity condemns in the strongest terms these remarks,” the organisation wrote.

“These condescending statements illustrate an intolerable contempt for the aspirations of African peoples for self-determination,” it added.

To them, Macron’s statement reminds Africans and the French of a few historical truths.

“The French President seems to have forgotten that thousands of African soldiers shed their blood and gave their lives to free France from the occupying forces  during the First World War,” the organisation wrote.

“Mr. Emmanuel Macron, have you also forgotten that it was from Douala—in 
Cameroon—that the Leclerc’s thousands of African soldiers column set out to liberate southern Mediterranean Europe and France, all the way to Paris, during the Second World War?” it furthered.

The organisation called on African youths to unite now, more than ever, against contempt from foreign leaders like Macron.

“In a global context marked by complex geopolitical, climate, and economic issues, only a united and determined Africa will be able to defend its interests, its sovereignty, and its future in the long term,” it added.

African Countries React

Apart from this organisation, some African countries, including Senegal and Chad, have reacted to Macron’s statement.

Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, said the impression that the withdrawal of French troops from African states was based on negotiations is false.

He stated that France is pulling out of Senegal because the Senegalese people want to reclaim their sovereignty.

He said France has no capacity to determine the sovereignty of African states.

To him, France has instead been responsible for the destabilisation of African states, with Libya as an example.

Aside from Senegal’s PM, Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Relations reacted too.

Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said Chad has no issues with France but that French leaders must respect Africans and recognise the value of their sacrifice.

“History attests that Africa, including Chad, played a decisive role in the liberation of France during World War II, and France never truly acknowledged it,” Koulamallah said.

To him, the construction of the Chadian army is not the work of France.

France Pulling out Soldiers from Africa

Macron’s statement was responding to its dwindling influence in West and Central Africa; it has faced calls to remove its troops.

Most French troops stationed in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad have left after these countries expelled them.

Countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger asked France to leave because its troops weren’t serving their interests—combatting jihadists.

Recently, Senegal and Ivory Coast also asked French troops to leave their countries, ending decades of military cooperation.

France colonised most countries in West and Central Africa and has continued to wield significant influence since granting them independence.

But with recent happenings, France’s popularity has dwindled.