DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegalese and Chadian leaders said that the ousting of French troops from their territories was their sovereign decision, rejecting remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron that suggested otherwise.
Senegal, Chad and Ivory Coast last month announced the departure of French troops just as Paris was devising a new strategy that would sharply reduce its permanent troop presence in Africa.
Macron said Monday at an annual meeting of foreign ambassadors that France had “proposed to the African heads of state to reorganize our presence.” He added, "As we are very polite, we have given them the priority of the announcement.”
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko wrote on X late Monday, “I would like to say that, in the case of Senegal, this assertion is totally erroneous.”
“No discussion or negotiation has taken place to date and the decision taken by Senegal stems from its sole will, as a free, independent and sovereign country,” Sonko added. “France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa’s security and sovereignty."
French troops have already left Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are ruled by military juntas.
In 2023, Macron promised a “new security partnership” with reduced numbers of French troops on the continent in a process he said would be based on needs expressed by African partners.
Earlier on Monday, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah expressed “deep concern” following Macron’s remarks.
Macron’s words “reflect a contemptuous attitude towards Africa and Africans,” he said in a statement published on social media. “French leaders need to learn to respect the African people and to recognize the value of their sacrifices.”
He added that the 60 years of French presence in Chad “has often been limited to its own strategic interests, without any real lasting impact on the development of the Chadian people.”
Since the independence of French colonies in Africa, Paris has maintained a policy of economic, political and military sway which at the time had been dubbed Françafrique, including having thousands of permanent troops in the region.
France currently has 600 troops in Ivory Coast, 350 in Senegal and 350 in Gabon, as well as around 1,500 in Djibouti. It has had 1,000 troops in Chad.
France’s Defense Ministry said the role of French troops in Africa is to train local soldiers and reinforce their capacities to fight extremism, mainly in peacekeeping, intelligence and logistics. But critics say keeping boots on the ground also has allowed Paris to retain influence and protect political regimes favorable to France.
Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his speech to French ambassadors posted around the world, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brayden Point scored with 52 seconds to play and the Tampa Bay Lightning snapped a four-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul also scored for Tampa Bay while Darren Raddysh finished with two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots in the victory.
Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina. Pytor Kochetkov finished with 31 saves.
Nikita Kucherov found Point cutting to the slot where he received the pass and spun around to his forehand to snap a shot past Kochetkov on the winning goal.
Hurricanes: Defenseman Brent Burns appeared in his 884th consecutive game to tie Steve Larmer for the sixth-longest iron man streak in league history. Carolina has not won consecutive games since Dec. 14 and Dec. 17.
Lightning: Paul became the sixth Tampa Bay player to score at least 10 goals this season. Vasilevskiy recorded his 310th career victory to tie Kari Lehtonen for 33rd on the career list.
Just after the Lightning were turned aside late, Victor Hedman collected the puck in the neutral zone and re-entered the zone with a pass to prevent Carolina from a late change right before Tampa Bay’s winning goal.
Tampa Bay improved to 21-5-1 when scoring at least three goals.
The Penguins host Toronto while the Lightning welcome Boston, both on Thursday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) knocks the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake (53) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) keeps the puck from Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) keeps Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) from the puck after a save by Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Carolina Hurricanes center Jack Drury (18) carries the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) shoots on Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) and defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) cuts around Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
