Chad criticizes French domination and colonialism

Following the French President's statements that African countries have forgotten to thank Paris for participating in what he calls the 'fight against terrorism' in the Sahel region, the Chadian Foreign Minister has criticized and condemned the remarks.

Abdulrahman Ghulamallah, expressing the concern of the government of the Republic of Chad regarding the remarks of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said that these remarks are a form of disrespectful attitude towards Africa and Africans. He stressed that French leaders should understand the importance of respecting the people of Africa.

The leaders of Paris are outraged by the new direction of African countries. For decades, the French occupied various African countries without borders, using them as a field for the plunder of natural resources. At different periods of history, they have continued both old and new colonialism, and in recent decades have justified their presence in Africa under the pretext of aid and cooperation.

In fact, France has been considering Africa as part of its imperialist expansionist policies in the international arena. In the course of this expansion in recent decades, France has been plundering Africa's resources and assets.

The argument of helping African countries fight terrorism and ensure security is one of the themes that French leaders have frequently used to justify their military presence on the continent. The French army has been serving in Sahel countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, not in the interests of security but with the aim of interfering in political affairs and imposing policies that benefit them.

The continuation of French interventionist policies in African countries, along with political and social changes in many countries on the continent, has led Africans to oppose the colonial policies of Western countries, including France. In recent years, several popularly supported military coups have taken place in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where citizens have clearly expressed support for the expulsion of French troops from their countries.

This situation marks the end of French neo-colonialism in Africa and the beginning of a new era of political and economic independence for various African nations.

In the view of many African nations, France and other Western countries can no longer continue to station armies or plunder the resources and mineral resources of African nations. Instead, they should embrace a new relationship based on mutual respect. Chad's Foreign Minister has stressed: "France must now understand that Chad has grown and matured."

However, the leaders of Paris, who in recent years have been forced to admit defeat and withdraw their troops from various African countries, now in a new strategy want African countries to recognize Paris' contribution to what they claim is the war on terrorism, while calling Africans ungrateful. The statement has prompted Chad's Foreign Minister, Abdulrahman Ghulamullah, to respond by saying that France's participation for six decades was based solely on French political interests without any real contribution to sustainable development in Africa.

French leaders also want recognition from African countries, while they have never apologized for their crimes in Africa. The record of French killings and atrocities in Algeria, Rwanda, Cameroon, and other countries remains a part of history, and despite repeated requests from these countries, especially Algeria, France has refused to formally apologize.

Another thing is that France has never recognized the contribution of Africa to its economic and political success. Chad's Foreign Minister has said that Africa played a key role in France's liberation in the two World Wars. He said France has never truly appreciated the sacrifices of African soldiers.

On this basis, not only should France thank African countries for helping it, but it should also apologize and pay compensation for the crimes it committed against Africans during the colonial era.