The Elysee palace has said in a statement that Emmanuel Macron will use his first visit to Chad to reaffirm his commitment to counterterror efforts amid 6 weeks of Yellow Vests protests in france.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Chad for a two-day visit to meet with French soldiers deployed in the Sahel region under anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane. During his pre-Christmas visit to Kossei air base near Chad's capital N'Djamena, Macron brought champagne, foie gras, and chocolate to share a holiday meal with 1,300 troops.
Macron's personal chef reportedly travelled with him to make sure the soldiers received Christmas dinner from home despite the sweltering heat.
Macron Calls for Order, Calm in Country Amid ‘Yellow Vests' Protests
The French president also held talks with his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby to discuss, among other issues, Operation Barkhane, led by france against jihadists in Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger and launched in August 2014 in order to help the governments fight terrorism.
Social media users, however, didn't appreciate the gesture, blasting him for leaving France amid ongoing yellow vests rallies against his government's policies:
TWEET: “This is Macron in Chad before returning to France”
TWEET: “Resign”.
TWEET: “There is Macron in Chad with the military while France is put to fire and sword… Will he buy…
