African governments have criticized a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron in which he said that some leaders showed “ingratitude” for the deployment of his nation’s troops in the Sahel region in battling Islamist extremism.

In a speech to French ambassadors, French president Emmanuel Macron claimed that African leaders 'forgot to say thank you' for France's 2013 military intervention in the Sahel, provoking immediate ire from Chad's president.

African officials pushed back after French President Emmanuel Macron said that some of their nations owed their sovereignty to France after its troops intervened in their countries.

In response, Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said Macron comments had revealed his contempt for Africa. "Chad expresses its deep concern following the remarks made recently by [the French president], which reflect a contemptuous attitude towards Africa and Africans," he said in a statement on national TV.

French President Emmanuel Macron says Sahel leaders have failed to thank France for its role in combatting terrorism in the region.

Senegal and Chad have criticized French President Macron's remarks suggesting African countries are ungrateful for France's security role in the continent. ・Macron claimed African nations owe their sovereignty to the presence of French forces ・Senegal and Chad criticized French President Macron's remarks about Africa's gratitude for France's

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the African Sahel states forgot to thank France for preventing their nations from falling under the control of militants. Macron stated that France had a relationship with its former colonies based on security.