Traore: Macron insulted all Africans, he does not see us as human
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Burkina Faso's military-led President, Ibrahim Traore, slams French President Emmanuel Macron over his remarks about Africa's ingratitude.
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Burkina Faso coup leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore participates in a ceremony in Ouagadougou, on October 15, 2022. (AP)
Burkina Faso's military-led President Captain Ibrahim Traore stated on Monday that Emmanuel Macron had "insulted all Africans" in his speech last week. In that address, the French president criticized the "ingratitude" of some countries toward France.
"I think they forgot to thank us. It doesn't matter, it will come with time. Ingratitude - I know this well - is a disease that cannot be transmitted to humans," the French president had declared regarding alleged French military interventions against jihadists in the Sahel.
"He insulted all Africans. (...) This is how this gentleman sees Africa, sees Africans. We are not human in his eyes," reacted Captain Traore, during a New Year's ceremony.
Relations between France and Burkina Faso continued to deteriorate since the 36-year-old captain took power by force following a coup in September 2022.
As one of the Sahelian countries, along with Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso ordered the departure of French forces from its soil in 2023.
Chad, Senegal end French presence
France has chosen to restructure its military presence in Africa, with countries like Chad and Senegal taking the initiative as early as November.
Chad has condemned the military cooperation agreement and called for the withdrawal of French troops by the end of January, while Senegal has requested the closure of French military bases and the termination of all foreign military presences, with a timetable yet to be determined.
"If you want a break with these imperialist forces, it's simple, we denounce the agreements. If we don't denounce the agreements, just say that they leave the [military] bases, we have done nothing," Captain Traore said.
"Africans must wake up. We must work to be independent. We must decolonize mentalities," he added.
Chadian, Senegalese officials condemn Macron's statements
Similarly, last week, Chadian and Senegalese authorities strongly criticized Macron's "contemptuous" remarks following the withdrawal of French forces from their countries.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko rejected Macron's claim that "no African country would be sovereign today if France had not stepped up."
On his part, Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno expressed his outrage over Macron's statements, accusing the French President of being stuck "in the wrong era."
"I'd like to express my outrage regarding recent remarks by President Macron which border on contempt for Africa and Africans," he said in a speech at the presidential palace published on the presidency's Facebook page.
Similarly, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah condemned Macron's remarks as a "contemptuous attitude towards Africa and Africans."
