By Ebi Kesiena
Senegalese and Chadian leaders have firmly stated that the decision to expel French troops from their territories was made independently, dismissing recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting otherwise.
Heritage Times HT recalls that last month, Senegal, Chad, and Ivory Coast announced the departure of French troops amid France’s ongoing efforts to restructure its military presence in Africa.
Meanwhile, during an annual meeting with foreign ambassadors on Monday, Macron claimed that France had “proposed to the African heads of state to reorganise our presence,” adding, “As we are very polite, we have given them the priority of the announcement.”
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, rejected Macron’s assertion in a post on X, emphasising that “no discussion or negotiation has taken place, and Senegal’s decision stems solely from its sovereign will as an independent nation.”
He added that France lacks the legitimacy to ensure Africa’s security and sovereignty.
Echoing similar sentiments, Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, criticised Macron’s remarks as “contemptuous” and urged French leaders to “respect African people and recognise their sacrifices.”
He noted that France’s six-decade presence in Chad had primarily served its own strategic interests, with little impact on the Chadian people’s development.
Over the past decade, French troops have withdrawn from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, nations now governed by military juntas. Despite Macron’s 2023 pledge for a “new security partnership” centred on African needs, criticism persists over France’s continued military influence on the continent.
Currently, France maintains 600 troops in Ivory Coast, 350 in Senegal, 350 in Gabon, and around 1,500 in Djibouti, with an additional 1,000 previously stationed in Chad.
While the French Defence Ministry asserts that its forces focus on training, intelligence, and counter-extremism efforts, critics argue that their presence serves to maintain political influence and protect regimes favourable to Paris.
