‘I think someone forgot to say thank you,’ Macron said during an address on 6 January at an annual conference with French ambassadors in Paris. He dismissed that African states had forced the former colonial power to withdraw military personnel from the region. A visibly upset Macron continued by asserting that the African states would not be sovereign today if not for the deployment of the French army in Africa’s Sahel region.

Leaders in Chad and Senegal accused Macron of showing contempt and invoking language reminiscent of colonial rhetoric.

Over the years, France’s influence on the continent has declined. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—three states that ousted Western-aligned leaders in recent years and subsequently formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)— have accused Paris of perpetuating neo-colonialism by maintaining control of former colonies through the use of French currency, occupying territories and exploiting natural resources.

The AES members have expelled French troops, while Senegal, Chad and Ivory Coast have ended their security agreements with France.