Did Macron say that Africa still needs France in order to "thrive"?

Published on 06/06/2025 - 15:36 GMT+2

French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly claimed that African countries would beryllium incapable to "thrive without French involvement", according to a bid of posts circulating connected societal media.

"Africa remains nan slightest developed continent, and history shows we person a domiciled to play successful supporting its growth. A complete withdrawal could halt progress”, states a station supposedly quoting Macron, which has been viewed almost 700k times.

A number of nan posts which relay nan declare characteristic nan aforesaid property changeable of Macron.

By conducting a reverse image hunt and checking that results matched pinch nan image shared connected societal media, EuroVerify was capable to lucifer nan photograph pinch property shots taken astatine a European acme held successful Brussels connected 6 March 2025.

An study of Macron’s speech, arsenic good arsenic a further expanse of news reports and charismatic statements made by nan French President, yielded nary grounds for nan quotes attributed to him.

Meanwhile, French negotiated sources further refuted nan quotes attributed to nan French leader, branding them arsenic "false.”

Why are these claims being spread?

A number of nan societal media accounts which attributed nan connection to Macron person besides shared pro-Russian propaganda and backed nan Alliance of nan Sahel States (AES).

The AES is an confederation made up of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, countries which are each governed by subject regimes that came to powerfulness pursuing coups. It was formed aft nan West African bloc ECOWAS threatened to reconstruct civilian norm successful Niger done subject intervention, aft a coup ousted nan country's president Mohamed Bazoum successful July 2023.

Russia was nan first state to recognise nan alliance, arsenic it useful to grow its beingness successful Africa, while France has been progressively withdrawing its troops from nan region, faced pinch expanding guidance against its subject presence.

Previous controversies

Although this peculiar connection attributed to Macron whitethorn not beryllium true, immoderate of nan French President's erstwhile claims regarding France's engagement successful Africa person sparked backlash from African leaders. 

For instance, successful January leaders successful Chad and Senegal accused Macron of showing contempt, aft he declared that West African leaders had forgotten to "thank" France for helping to combat Islamist militants successful nan Sahel region.

Since 2022, France has been progressively withdrawing its troops from West Africa owed to guidance against French subject beingness successful nan region.