Speaking at the end of the NATO summit in London, Macron says the Sahel leaders must address anti French sentiment about its role in Africa.

France is the only Western country with a substantial military presence in Africa.

It sent in troops to prevent Mali being overrun by Jihadis in 2013.

It still has 4 500 soldiers helping the so called Sahel G5 comprising Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Chad and Burkina Faso.

French President Emmanuel Macron says if those troops are stay there, African leaders must affirm that they need them.

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Observers say the clashes egos between these two former colonial powers is compounding the troubles of the North African country.

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Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Defence Minister Elizabetta Trenta and Foreign Minister Enzo Milanesi all condemn French meddling in Libya.

They say President Emmanuel Macron is dangerously rushing Libya’s disparate factions into an election this year.

They also maintain that former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who pushed NATO to overthrow  the dictator Muammar Gadaffi in 2011, is partly to blame for the breakup of Libya.

Italy opposed that NATO action. 

As the former colonial ruler of Libya, it fears France – and particularly its oil giant TOTAL – is trying to supplant Italy’s influence in the country.

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This comes as US and UN military experts probe Somali pirates helping Islamist terrorists in the violence-torn country.

US Africa command spokesman Mark Cheadle says two US helicopters were used in what he calls an advise and assist operation.

He says several Al Shabaab operatives were killed but did not provide  specific numbers.

United States and United Nations experts are investigating Somali pirates arming and assisting Al Shabaab and Al Qaeda terrorists.

The pundits say this cooperation could explain a recent spike in piracy off the Horn Africa after years of relative calm enforced by a NATO presence.

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The drills in Western Chad come as it and other Nigerian neighbours join in the battle against Boko Haram.

American special forces are training troops from 20 African countries to fight terror.

The exercise in the Chadian desert is part of new Western counter-terrorism tactics in Africa.

Operation Flintlock is an annual counter-terrorism exercise led by the United States and held with their Nato allies on the fringes of the Sahara.

The tenth edition is running as the region prepares to take on Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Chad has taken a leading role in this. Some of its troops currently undergoing training may be going straight back into battle.

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