Eighty years after the tragic events at Thiaroye, a fishing village near Dakar, Senegal, the truth surrounding the massacre of Senegalese soldiers by French forces is finally, partially, coming to light. For decades, the incident was minimized and shrouded in secrecy, with official French accounts drastically understating the number of victims. Now, French President Emmanuel Macron has officially recognized the events of December 1st, 1944, as a massacre, a momentous albeit long-overdue acknowledgment.
The story begins with Biram Senghor, an 86-year-old man who regularly visits the anonymous graves at the Thiaroye military cemetery. He seeks his father, M’Bap Senghor, one of the hundreds of Senegalese Tirailleurs Sénégalais – West African riflemen who fought bravely for France during World War II – who were murdered after demanding their unpaid wages. The exact number of victims remains unknown, with estimates ranging from 35, according to initial French reports, to nearly 400, according to many contemporary historians. The discrepancies highlight the long history of obfuscation and cover-up surrounding this horrific event.
These Senegalese soldiers, members of the colonial infantry, fought valiantly in both World Wars. Their brutal deaths following a demand for rightfully earned wages represent a stark betrayal of trust and a shameful episode in colonial history. In a letter to Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Macron stated that the confrontation between French soldiers and the Senegalese riflemen triggered the massacre. However, historians like Martin Mourre, author of *Thiaroye 1944, History and Memory of a Colonial Massacre*, dispute this version of events, arguing that the unarmed soldiers were executed. Mourre points to the lack of weapons mentioned in the trials of the accused Senegalese soldiers and the absence of French casualties as evidence against the French narrative of a confrontation.
Macron’s acknowledgment, while significant, falls short of providing a full accounting. The letter does not specify the number of victims, and the controversy surrounding the massacre is further fueled by missing historical documents. Despite the handover of French archives in 2014 by then-President François Hollande, crucial documents detailing the mass graves and the number of soldiers present on the day of the massacre remain mysteriously absent. The lack of transparency from French authorities only deepens the wound of this unresolved historical tragedy.
Senegal’s current president, Faye, elected on a platform of redefining the country’s relationship with its former colonizer, is leading efforts to ensure Thiaroye’s inclusion in Senegal’s national narrative. Commemorations, extending from December 1st, 2024, to April 2025, aim to educate younger generations about this pivotal, yet largely obscured, part of Senegalese history. This renewed focus is occurring against a backdrop of declining French influence in the region. The recent expulsion of French troops from several West African nations and the termination of a military cooperation agreement with Chad underscore a shifting geopolitical landscape. France’s continued military presence in Senegal, though limited, has been questioned by President Faye, highlighting the ongoing complexities in the relationship between the two nations.
The Thiaroye massacre stands as a powerful symbol of the lasting impact of colonialism and the struggle for truth and reconciliation. Macron’s recognition is a crucial first step, but it’s clear that a comprehensive investigation and the release of all relevant documents are necessary to fully understand the extent of this tragedy and to ensure that such injustices are never repeated.
