DAKAR, Senegal — Leaders from Senegal and Chad assert that their decision to expel French troops is a matter of national sovereignty, countering comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron that implied otherwise. In a recent announcement, Senegal, Chad, and Ivory Coast confirmed the withdrawal of French forces, coinciding with France’s efforts to reshape its military footprint in Africa by significantly reducing its permanent deployment on the continent.
During an annual gathering for foreign ambassadors, Macron mentioned that France had suggested a restructuring of its military presence to African heads of state, emphasizing that they were given the opportunity to make an initial announcement. However, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko refuted this, calling Macron’s assertion “totally erroneous” on social media platform X. He clarified that there had been no negotiations regarding the withdrawal, stating that Senegal made the decision independently as a “free, independent, and sovereign country.” Sonko also argued that France lacks both the ability and authority to guarantee security and sovereignty in Africa.
French troops have already exited from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, countries currently led by military regimes. In 2023, Macron pledged a revamped security partnership aimed at decreasing the number of French troops stationed in Africa, a process he claimed would be determined by the requirements put forth by African nations.
On the same day, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah voiced significant concern about Macron’s comments. He described Macron’s statements as exhibiting a “contemptuous attitude towards Africa,” insisting that French leaders must learn to respect the African populace and acknowledge their sacrifices. He pointed out that the 60-year legacy of French military presence in Chad has mostly served France’s strategic interests rather than contributing significantly to the advancement of Chadian society.
Since the independence of various African nations from French colonial rule, Paris has pursued a doctrine of economic, political, and military influence known as Françafrique, which has involved maintaining a strong military presence in various regions. Currently, France has approximately 600 troops in Ivory Coast, 350 in Senegal, 350 in Gabon, and around 1,500 in Djibouti, alongside a thousand troops in Chad.
While France’s Defense Ministry states that the primary mission of its troops in Africa is to train local military forces and enhance their capabilities to combat extremism, critics argue that this military presence allows France to sustain its influence and protect regimes that are aligned with its interests.
