Recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron on France’s military presence in Africa have sparked strong reactions from African leaders. It is in a complicated political-diplomatic atmosphere that France today faces an African continent where the wind of sovereignty is blowing.
LOME, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent remarks on France’s military presence in Africa have sparked strong reactions from African leaders. It is in a complicated political-diplomatic atmosphere that France today faces an African continent where the wind of sovereignty is blowing.
“We forgot to say thank you,” regretted the French head of state during the conference of ambassadors held at the Elysée on January 6, believing that certain African leaders had not sufficiently recognized the anti-terrorist intervention French in the Sahel. According to AFP, he also claimed responsibility for the decision to reduce French military personnel in Africa.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno expressed his indignation the next day at these comments which, according to him, “border on contempt for Africa and Africans”. “I sincerely think he’s got the era wrong,” he replied.
“As far as Chad is concerned, the decision to end the military cooperation agreement with France is entirely a sovereign decision of Chad. There is no ambiguity in this,” assured Mr. Déby.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, for his part, described on his
“No discussions or negotiations have taken place to date and the decision taken by Senegal stems from its sole will, as a free, independent and sovereign country,” he wrote.
For his part, Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré declared that these remarks had “offended all Africans”. He explained that, to break with the “imperialist forces”, it was necessary to denounce the colonial defense agreements which have been signed since independence.
A CALL FOR SOVEREIGNTY AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION
-According to some observers of African affairs, if such remarks have difficulty getting through to African interlocutors, it is because they are perceived as condescending and imbued with a colonial mentality, in contradiction with the rise in power of African nations. who claim sovereignty, autonomy and mutual respect based on the win-win principle.
“Africa is waking up and (believes) that countries that once colonized it and think they can continue to oppress this continent need to reevaluate their policies,” noted James Arrey Abangma, professor of political science at the University of Buea in Cameroon.
Claiming that African countries owe their sovereignty to Western military intervention has downplayed local efforts for independence and ignored the legacies of colonialism. Faced with this reductive vision, the Chadian president also insisted on the need to recognize the value of the sacrifices of the African people during the two world wars.
The French military presence in Africa, although it has been justified as a fight against terrorism, is often seen as ineffective and motivated by French strategic interests. France “has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa’s security and sovereignty”, said the Senegalese Prime Minister.
What the continent needs is not European troops, but mutually beneficial cooperation, according to Mr Abangma.
Furthermore, these reactions are part of a broader context of quest for autonomy by African countries, which seek to diversify their international partnerships and establish relations based on equality and mutual respect.
“Africa must wake up. We must work to be independent,” called the Burkinabè president, adding that we must “decolonize mentalities”.
