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.

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.

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

In a speech to France's diplomatic corps on Monday, Macron accused African leaders of 'forgetting' to 'thank' France for preventing their nations from falling under the control of jihadist insurgencies.

Chad and Senegal on Tuesday hit back at comments made by President Macron claiming that African countries in the Sahel had "forgotten to say thank you" to France for helping to combat jihadist insurgencies.

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.