Senegal and Chad have reacted strongly to remarks by French president Emmanuel Macron about African countries being ungrateful over France's role in helping fight militant jihadist insurgencies, reports the BBC.
On Monday, Macron said that Sahel states "forgot" to thank France for its role, amid the continuing withdrawal of French troops from West African countries.
He said no Sahelian nation would be a sovereign nation without France's intervention that prevented them from falling under the control of militants.
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.
He said "French leaders must learn to respect the African people and recognise the value of their sacrifices".
Senegal's prime minister Ousmane Sonko said France had in the past contributed to "destabilising certain African countries such as Libya" which had "disastrous consequences" for the region's security