French President Emmanuel Macron has formally recognized the 1944 killing of West African soldiers in Thiaroye, Senegal, as a massacre, marking a significant shift in France’s official stance on the event, The Associated Press reports.
The acknowledgement, contained in a letter addressed to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the killings, comes amid declining French influence in the region.
The incident, which occurred on December 1, 1944, involved the deaths of between 35 and 400 Senegalese Tirailleurs – West African soldiers who fought for the French Army during World War II. While France previously described the event as a mutiny, Macron’s letter explicitly labels it a massacre. The soldiers, largely unarmed, were killed by French troops following disputes over unpaid wages.
“France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre,” Macron wrote.
He further pledged to support a Senegalese committee, led by Professor Mamadou Diouf, tasked with fully investigating the events surrounding the tragedy.
President Faye welcomed Macron’s letter, stating that it should “open the door” to uncovering the “whole truth about this painful event.” He expressed hope for “full, frank and collaborative” engagement from France in this process. The acknowledgement comes weeks after legislative elections in Senegal which saw President Faye’s PASTEF party secure a clear majority, giving him a strong mandate to pursue greater economic independence from France.
France maintains a military presence of around 350 troops in Senegal, primarily in a support role. President Faye alluded to a potential future reduction of this presence.
