“I think he got the time wrong”

MADRID Jan. 8 () –

The transitional president of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby, charged this Tuesday against the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, after he criticized the Sahel countries for not thanking Paris for its efforts in the fight against terrorism in the region and added that he had proposed to the African heads of state to reorganize their military presence.

“I would like to express my indignation at the comments made recently by Macron, which border on contempt for Africa and Africans. I think he got the timing wrong. As for Chad, the decision to end the military occupation agreement with France is entirely a sovereign decision by Chad. This does not suffer from any ambiguity,” he declared in a speech at the presidential palace.

The Chadian Prime Minister, Allamaye Halina, has spoken along the same lines, remarking that the “bold and patriotic decision to end the military cooperation agreements” with France “comes after a long wait and against the will of the population” of the African country. “The deadline is not negotiable and must be respected unconditionally,” he concluded, recalling that the deadline is set for January 31 and that he will not tolerate any delay.

“We are surprised to hear the French president affirm, without any moderation worthy of his position, that Africans have forgotten to say ‘thank you’ to France. This statement is a serious insult to intelligence and a ridiculous denial of history,” he said. declared after presiding over a meeting with the members of the committee in charge of denouncing the mutual defense agreement, according to the news portal Alwihda Info.

The day before, the Chadian Foreign Ministry criticized Macron’s “disdainful attitude” towards Africa and Africans, while recommending the French president “focus his efforts on solving France’s problems” instead of attacking the continent.

“In 60 years of presence, marked by civil wars and prolonged political instability, the French contribution has often been limited to its own strategic interests, without any real and lasting impact on the development of the Chadian people,” it said in a statement.

He also recalled that Chad “played a decisive role in the liberation of France during both world wars, a fact that France has never recognized.” “The immense sacrifices made by African soldiers to defend freedom have been downplayed, and no worthy thanks have been expressed,” he said.

Macron’s statements have also been condemned by the Government of Senegal, through its Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, who denied that the withdrawal of the French military bases from its territory had occurred after a negotiation with the French Government: “In “In the case of Senegal, this statement is totally erroneous. To date no discussion or negotiation has taken place, and the decision taken by Senegal derives solely from its will as a free, independent and sovereign country.”