Chad’s decision to terminate a military cooperation agreement with France and Senegal’s plans to expel French troops represent a significant blow to French President Emmanuel Macron’s foreign policy, according to Thierry Mariani, a member of the European Parliament. Speaking in an interview with RIA Novosti, Mariani described the developments as a “catastrophe” for Paris, marking yet another setback in Macron’s handling of African relations.
Mariani asserted that under Macron’s leadership, France has lost most of its influence on the African continent, a region historically tied to Paris. “No one has done as much damage in the last 40 years as Macron. If he wants to do France a favor, he should resign as soon as possible,” the French politician remarked.
Chad announced its decision to scrap the 2019 defense cooperation treaty shortly after a meeting between Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in N’Djamena. Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno later called the agreement “obsolete” and incompatible with Chad’s evolving security and geopolitical needs.
The move aligns Chad with other African nations, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, that have also expelled French forces in recent years. These countries have cited dissatisfaction with France’s inability to curb jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel region and have pivoted toward alternative alliances, including closer ties with Russia.
In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced plans to remove French military bases, labeling them “incompatible” with the country’s sovereignty. Although details of the timeline remain unclear, France has already begun reducing its military footprint in Senegal from 350 troops to 100 as part of a broader reconfiguration.
Thierry Mariani lamented the growing trend of African nations severing ties with Paris. “What happened with Chad is tragic; it’s 50 years of friendship that are over. The same with Senegal. It is a disaster for our foreign policy, and it is Macron’s fault. He has shown endless contempt for African leaders,” Mariani told RIA Novosti.
The French government has faced mounting criticism from within its own ranks. Last year, French lawmakers wrote to President Macron, expressing their dissatisfaction with his administration’s perceived failures in Africa. They highlighted deteriorating relations with former colonies as a consequence of these missteps.
This report was originally published by RT News.
