The Senegalese prime minister and the Chadian foreign minister have condemned claims made by Emmanuel Macron regarding negotiations about the withdrawal of French troops from several African countries,

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.

Senegalese and Chadian leaders say the ousting of French troops from their territories was their sovereign decision, rejecting remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron that suggested otherwise.

Emmanuel Macron had said African leaders had not thanked France for ‘helping to combat’ insurgencies - Anadolu Ajansı

Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, condemned Macron’s remarks as “disrespectful” to Africans and highlighted Chad’s sacrifices during both World Wars.

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.

Macron said Monday that African nations failed to say thank you to France for deploying its military to the Sahel region