In a recent statement, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed disappointment over what he perceives as a lack of gratitude from African Sahel states for France’s military support in the region. Macron, in a video obtained by DAILY POST via BBC X, emphasized that France’s intervention in West Africa was at the request of these nations, aiming to curb the spread of militant groups and prevent them from gaining control.
Macron highlighted that French forces had been deployed to the region in 2013, responding to a call for assistance from several African states, including Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Niger. According to the French President, France’s role in combating terrorism and stabilizing these nations was essential, and he lamented the lack of acknowledgment for the sacrifices made by French soldiers, some of whom lost their lives.
“We had a relationship based on security,” Macron stated, noting that France’s engagement was two-fold: supporting the fight against terrorism and ensuring regional stability. He continued, “None of these nations would be sovereign today if the French army hadn’t deployed in the region.”
The comments come amid the French military’s ongoing withdrawal from several Sahel countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, following requests from these nations. The French forces are also gradually pulling out from Ivory Coast, with the process beginning in January 2025.
Macron further addressed the recent coups in the region, stating that as these countries’ priorities shifted away from combating terrorism, France’s involvement was no longer appropriate. “We are not at the beck and call of coup leaders,” he declared, stressing that France’s withdrawal was in response to changing political circumstances in the Sahel.
The French President’s remarks reflect growing tensions between France and its former colonies in West Africa, as many of the affected states seek to assert their sovereignty and move away from past colonial relationships.
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