Sonko reiterated that Senegal’s decision was taken independently as a sovereign nation and accused France of destabilizing African countries.

Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, in turn, called Macron’s remarks disrespectful to the Africans and criticized France’s military presence in Chad as representative of French interests without promoting local development.

Addressing French ambassadors at a conference, Macron said in openly colonialist rhetoric that Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso would not have sovereign states if the French army had not deployed forces in this region.

He was awaiting those nations to thank Paris for its alleged help in fighting Islamist militants.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have already withdrawn the French soldiers from their territories, while troops in Senegal, Chad, and Ivory Coast have begun to leave after ending military agreements with Paris.

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