For the first time, French President Emmanuel Macron has officially acknowledged the 1944 killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in Thiaroye, Senegal, as a massacre. In a letter addressed to Senegalese authorities on Thursday, Macron described the events as a tragedy and called for deeper efforts to uncover the full truth about the incident.
The acknowledgment comes on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the killings, which occurred on December 1, 1944, in Thiaroye, a fishing village near Dakar. The soldiers, members of the Tirailleurs Sénégalais infantry unit, had returned from fighting for France in World War II. Between 35 and 400 West African soldiers were killed by French troops during what France described as a mutiny over unpaid wages. Historians, however, argue that most of the soldiers were unarmed when they were rounded up and executed.
Macron’s statement represents a significant step toward addressing a painful chapter in Franco-African relations. “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.
The letter further emphasized the importance of establishing the facts surrounding the massacre. Macron noted that a Committee for the Restoration of the Facts, led by Professor Mamadou Diouf, had been established by Senegal’s government to investigate the incident. Macron expressed France’s willingness to cooperate with the committee’s work.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who received Macron’s letter, welcomed the acknowledgment. Speaking to reporters late Thursday, Faye said, “Macron’s step should open the door so that the whole truth about this painful event of Thiaroye can finally come out. We have long sought closure on this story and we believe that, this time, France’s commitment will be full, frank, and collaborative.”
The recognition comes at a time when France’s influence in West Africa is waning, with Paris struggling to maintain its sway in former colonies across the region. The Thiaroye massacre, long seen as a symbol of colonial injustice, remains a critical touchstone in the relationship between France and its former colonies.