Senegal commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, a dark chapter in colonial history when French troops opened fire on unarmed West African soldiers demanding their unpaid wages after fighting for France in World War II. The killings, which occurred on December 1, 1944, at a military camp in Thiaroye, near Dakar, have long been shrouded in silence and controversy.
For the first time, French President Emmanuel Macron officially acknowledged the events as a massacre, describing it as a “tragedy” that necessitates uncovering the full truth. Macron’s statement marks a significant step in addressing the historical injustice, following limited acknowledgments by former French leaders like François Hollande, who also referred to the event as a massacre in 2014.
While French military records at the time acknowledged 35 deaths, historians suggest the toll could be as high as 300 to 400. Macron pledged France’s full cooperation in uncovering the causes and facts behind the massacre.
The massacre occurred when African riflemen, or tirailleurs sénégalais, returned home from Europe after serving in the French army during World War II. Many of these soldiers had endured severe hardship and risked their lives in the war. They protested at Thiaroye for their unpaid wages and better treatment, but their demands were met with lethal force.
For decades, the event was overshadowed by misinformation and official silence, with the French colonial administration labeling it a mutiny rather than acknowledging it as a massacre. This narrative obscured the truth and delayed justice.
Historians and activists have long called for unrestricted access to French colonial archives to uncover the full details of the event. While France claims to have shared relevant documents with Senegal in 2014, Senegalese historians, like Mamadou Diouf, remain skeptical and believe critical records are still withheld. Five French MPs have proposed a parliamentary inquiry into the massacre, with the investigation potentially beginning in 2025.
In Senegal, the memory of Thiaroye has been preserved through cultural works like Ousmane Sembène’s 1988 film Camp de Thiaroye, which brought international attention to the massacre. Songs, plays, and poems continue to honor the victims and ensure the story remains part of Senegal’s collective consciousness.
The official recognition by Macron is seen as a crucial step in addressing historical grievances, but the journey toward full transparency and justice remains ongoing. The massacre stands as a stark reminder of the exploitation and betrayal endured by African soldiers under colonial rule, and its commemoration underscores the need to confront uncomfortable truths about the colonial past.
