Africa to France: ‘Your Museums Are Our Treasures’​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Chad and Senegal have issued strong rebukes to French President Emmanuel Macron following his comments suggesting African nations have failed to show gratitude for France’s military support in the Sahel region.

Speaking at an annual gathering of French ambassadors on Monday, Macron claimed France was “right” to intervene militarily against terrorism in the Sahel since 2013, asserting that without French intervention, none of the current African leaders would be governing sovereign states today. “They forgot to say thank you,” Macron remarked, adding sarcastically, “No matter, it will come with time.”

The comments drew swift condemnation from African officials. Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Kalam Allah expressed “deep concern” over what he characterised as Macron’s “contemptuous attitude toward Africa and Africans.” Whilst affirming Chad has “no problem with France,” he insisted “French leaders must learn to respect African people.”

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a particularly pointed response, noting that without African soldiers’ contributions to liberating France from Nazi occupation during World War II, “France might still be German today.”

Macron’s assertion that French military withdrawals from African nations were conducted through mutual consultation has been directly challenged. Senegal, which recently announced the termination of French military presence on its territory, dismissed this claim as “completely wrong.” “No discussion or negotiations have taken place,” Sonko stated. “Senegal’s decision stems from its sole will, as a free, independent, and sovereign state.”

The diplomatic tension occurs against a backdrop of shifting France-Africa relations. Chad cancelled its military agreements with France in November, whilst several other African nations have recently moved to end French military presence in their territories.

The Chadian foreign minister highlighted what he described as France’s failure to acknowledge Africa’s “crucial role” in both World Wars, adding that during 60 years of French presence, France’s contribution “was often limited to its own strategic interests, without any real lasting impact on the development of the Chadian people.”

Sonko went further, asserting that “France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to guarantee Africa’s security and sovereignty,” citing France’s intervention in Libya as an example of actions that have destabilised the Sahel region.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​