At a military cemetery in Thiaroye, a fishing village near Senegal’s capital Dakar, 86-year-old Biram Senghor bows before anonymous graves, paying respects to the fallen. Among them, he believes, is his father, M’Bap Senghor, one of hundreds of West African riflemen killed on December 1, 1944, by the French army after demanding unpaid wages.
Despite decades of seeking answers, Senghor and other descendants remain in the dark. The graves are unmarked, the exact number of victims unknown, and the circumstances shrouded in controversy. As Senegal commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, tensions between the nation and its former colonizer, France, threaten to resurface.
“I have been fighting to get answers for over 80 years,” Senghor lamented. “(French President Emmanuel) Macron cannot do what the other French presidents before him did; France has to repent.”
The Thiaroye Massacre: A Dark Chapter
The West African soldiers, part of the Tirailleurs Sénégalais — colonial infantry who fought for France in both World Wars — were stationed at a camp in Thiaroye in 1944. Historians report disputes over unpaid wages leading up to December 1, when French troops opened fire on the unarmed African soldiers.
French authorities initially claimed only 35 soldiers were killed in response to a “mutiny,” while other reports mention 70 deaths. However, many historians, including French scholar Martin Mourre, believe the death toll was closer to 400, based on estimates of the number of riflemen present that day. Mourre describes the event as “an execution of unarmed soldiers,” citing the absence of evidence for a confrontation, as no injuries were reported among French troops.
France’s Shifting Stance
For decades, French officials downplayed the massacre, and key military documents remain inaccessible. In 2014, French President François Hollande transferred some archival materials to Senegal, but historians argue crucial records — including those identifying mass graves and confirming the number of victims — are still missing.
On Thursday, Macron acknowledged the massacre for the first time in a letter to Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. “France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre,” Macron wrote.
However, Macron’s omission of the death toll and his framing of the event as a “confrontation” sparked criticism. President Faye described the massacre as “a premeditated act,” challenging France’s narrative.
Commemoration and Historical Reckoning
Under Faye, Senegal is taking steps to reclaim the historical narrative of Thiaroye. His administration has launched nationwide commemorations, set to run until April 2025, and announced measures to preserve the memory of the riflemen. These include the construction of a memorial, a research center for archival materials, and the addition of the massacre to school curricula. December 1 will now be observed as “National Day of the Tirailleur.”
“What we are doing here is part of our duty of remembrance and to reveal the truth of the facts, to discharge a moral debt towards the riflemen and their families,” Faye said during Sunday’s ceremony, attended by dignitaries from Senegal and neighboring African nations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was present, but Macron was notably absent.
Faye emphasized the commemoration is not intended to “arouse resentment or hatred” but to honor the memory of the riflemen and promote justice.
France’s Waning Influence in West Africa
The 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre comes amid a broader decline in France’s influence in its former colonies. French troops have been expelled from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in recent years, and Chad recently ended its military cooperation agreement with Paris.
In Senegal, where approximately 350 French troops remain in supportive roles, President Faye questioned the continued presence of foreign forces. “France enslaved, colonized, and stayed here. Obviously, I think that… no other country would tolerate a foreign military base on its soil,” he said.
As Senegal deepens its reckoning with its colonial past, the massacre at Thiaroye remains a potent symbol of the sacrifices and injustices endured by African soldiers who fought for freedom, only to be denied it themselves.
(AP)
