By Daniel Edu
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed frustration with African nations in the Sahel region for not acknowledging France’s role in preventing their countries from falling under militant control. In remarks about France’s security-focused ties with its former colonies, Macron emphasized that French troops were deployed at the request of these nations’ governments.
In a video shared by the BBC on Monday, Macron voiced disappointment as French forces began their withdrawal from Ivory Coast in January, following previous exits from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Several countries in the region, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Benin, had requested the departure of French troops.
Macron stated: “We had a security partnership, which involved a twofold commitment: one was our fight against terrorism since 2013. We were right in our actions. Someone seems to have forgotten to say thank you. It’s fine; that recognition will come with time. I know well that ingratitude is a condition that doesn’t transfer to people, but I’m addressing all the African leaders who have not had the courage to acknowledge this in public, despite the influence of public opinion. None of them would have sovereignty today if not for the French military’s intervention in the region.”
He continued, expressing solidarity with French soldiers who had sacrificed their lives: “I feel for our soldiers, some of whom gave their lives after years of service. We did what was right. We left because of the coups d’état. We were there at the request of sovereign states. When those states decided that combating terrorism was no longer their priority, and instead shifted focus elsewhere, France no longer had a place there. We are not here to serve the interests of coup leaders, so we left.”
