France and Africa… Macron criticizes ingratitude in the Sahel
French President Emmanuel Macron reopened the issue of France’s role in Mali, while placing greater emphasis on the future of Paris’s relationship with the African continent and his new strategy.
At the end of a visit to Kenya to participate in a Franco-African summit, Macron expressed regret that his country’s 2013 military intervention in Mali was met with what he described as “ingratitude.”
At the same time, he stressed that Paris has redefined its security relations with Africa on more balanced and responsible foundations.
These remarks were made during an interview with French media on the final day of his visit to Kenya to attend a Franco-African summit, according to the newspaper Le Monde.
Macron spoke at length about the situation in the Sahel region, particularly in Mali, emphasizing that the French intervention, launched in 2013 at the initiative of former President François Hollande and at the request of then-Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, aimed to “prevent the country’s partition and halt the advance of terrorist groups in the north.”
He added that French forces operated alongside the armies of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso “until 2020 and slightly beyond,” as part of a mission clearly requested by sovereign states and supported by the Economic Community of West African States (Communauté économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest).
Macron sharply criticized what followed, stating: “We were later met with ingratitude… and I strongly blame the leaders and all those who made these unacceptable statements.”
A balanced partnership
The French president nevertheless acknowledged that his country should have reconsidered its military presence in Africa earlier, noting that Paris did not exert enough pressure on Sahel state leaders before the coups to push them toward implementing development projects in areas reclaimed from armed groups.
He expressed satisfaction with the shift that has taken place over the past four years, saying: “We have completely redefined the relationship of security and peace with the African continent.”
He indicated that the closure of certain French military bases was part of this strategy, adding: “I believe this situation is healthier… We have normalized matters, and the relationship is now based on a balanced and responsible partnership.”
Migration policy
Regarding migration, Macron stated that he takes responsibility for tightening migration policy toward African countries, explaining: “In recent years, we have faced significant migratory pressure, and we had to regulate the entry of migrants.”
According to Le Monde, Macron’s statements reflect a clear reassessment of French policy in Africa, combining a defense of past interventions with an acknowledgment of mistakes in managing the subsequent phase, at a time when Paris is seeking to rebuild its relations with African countries on new and more balanced foundations amid rising security and political challenges.
