As French Troops Exit, Macron Slams Ungrateful African Leaders

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed dissatisfaction with African Sahel states for not recognizing France’s efforts in preventing militant groups from overtaking their nations. He highlighted that French military involvement in West Africa was initiated at the request of the governments in the region.

In a statement shared in a video, Macron voiced his disappointment as French forces began withdrawing from Ivory Coast in January, following earlier exits from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The French military had also been asked to leave other nations in the region, including Benin.

Reflecting on France’s role, Macron stated, “We had a relationship based on security. It was, in fact, two-fold: on one hand, it was our engagement against terrorism since 2013. We were right. I think someone forgot to say thank you. It’s okay; it will come with time. Ungratefulness, I know too well, is a disease that can’t be transmitted to man. But I say this for all African heads of state who have not had the courage, in the face of public opinion, to hold that view. None of them would be a sovereign state today if the French army hadn’t deployed in the region.”

Macron paid tribute to the French soldiers who served in the Sahel, noting the sacrifices many made, including giving their lives during the mission. He emphasized that France’s involvement was driven by the requests of legitimate governments to fight terrorism in the region. However, he justified France’s departure by pointing to political instability, particularly military coups, which shifted the priorities of these nations.

He added, “We left because there were coups d’etat, because we were there at the request of the sovereign states who asked France to come. From the moment there were coups d’etat and people said their priority was no longer fighting terrorism… France no longer belonged there because we are not at the beck and call of coup leaders. So we left.”

Macron concluded by reaffirming his belief that France had made the right decisions and expressed gratitude for the dedication of French forces during their mission.

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