Macron Denounces the “Ingratitude” of the Sahel... What “Kindness” Are You Referring to, Mr. President?
Introduction
It seems that French President Emmanuel Macron is upset about the lack of appreciation from the Sahel countries in Africa for what he considers France’s "kindness" towards them. But the question that arises is: What “kindness” is France referring to? Is it the so-called kindness that manifested in bloodshed and crises caused by France’s colonial and post-colonial policies in this region?
We ask with astonishment: Why should the Sahel countries and their neighbors be expected to thank France for its “favors”? Have they forgotten? Or has France itself forgotten what it has done?
Here are some examples of France’s "kindness" that President Macron might need to be reminded of, making the idea of "gratitude" not only unlikely but also offensive to its victims and their families:
1. The Massacre of 1.5 Million Algerian Martyrs
During the Algerian War of Independence, France committed one of the most horrific massacres in modern history, killing an estimated 1.5 million Algerians. Not only that, but France still keeps the skulls of many of these martyrs in the "Museum of Skulls" in Paris, a silent witness to the brutality of colonialism.
2. The Massacres of May 8, 1945: Destruction of 44 Algerian Villages and Killing of 45,000 Muslim
At the end of World War II, while Algerians were celebrating the victory of the Allies, in which they had contributed, France responded with a horrific massacre. In just 15 days, the French army destroyed 44 Algerian villages and committed massacres that took the lives of 45,000 Algerian Muslims.
3. The Nuclear Bomb in the Algerian Desert and Radiation Experiments on Prisoners
France did not stop at killing and destruction but went further to conduct brutal nuclear tests in the Algerian desert. It detonated a nuclear bomb four times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb and used Algerian prisoners as test subjects to study the effects of radiation on humans.
4. The Casablanca Massacre of 1907: 6,000 Moroccan Victims
At the beginning of the 20th century, France did not hesitate to use brutal force to impose its control over Morocco. In 1907, French forces committed a massacre in Casablanca, killing around 6,000 Moroccans in a bloody event that adds to France’s dark colonial record.
5. The Koukeb Massacre in Chad (1917): 400 Muslim Scholars and Leaders
France’s crimes extended beyond North Africa. In Chad, French forces committed the Koukeb massacre in 1917, killing around 400 Muslim scholars and leaders in an attempt to suppress any cultural or religious resistance to its colonial rule.
6. The Tazarka Massacre in Tunisia (1952): Rape and Infant Deaths
In Tunisia, things were no different. In the Tazarka massacre of 1952, French forces committed horrific atrocities against Tunisian civilians, including the rape of women and the trampling of infants, in a brutal display of the colonial oppression France practiced in Tunisia.
7. Seizing the Reserves of 14 African Countries Since 1961
France’s "kindness" did not stop at killings and massacres. Since 1961 and until today, France has retained the financial reserves of 14 African countries, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Chad. Thanks to this colonial financial policy, the French treasury generates annual profits of around $500 billion from Africa, while these countries suffer from poverty, disease, hunger, and underdevelopment.
Conclusion
With all these documented historical facts, does Macron still expect "thanks" from the Sahel countries? Does France still consider these crimes as "kindness" worthy of appreciation? African nations will not forget France’s bloody colonial history and will not allow this tragedy to be repeated under any pretext. Instead of denouncing "ingratitude," France should acknowledge its crimes, apologize for them, and work on reshaping its relations with Africa based on mutual respect and genuine shared interests—not exploitation and dependency.
