Senegal on Sunday commemorated the 80th anniversary of a massacre of African soldiers who fought for France during World War Two, and were gunned down by French troops in 1944 for demanding fair treatment and payment on their return..
Issued on: 01/12/2024
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: Caitlin KELLY
Senegal on Sunday commemorated 80 years since the killing of scores of African troops by French forces that the former colonial master acknowledged this week had been a "massacre".
Heads of state from Mauritania, the Comoros, Gabon, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, and France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot joined Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye who has used the anniversary to call for a new relationship with France.
All laid wreaths at the scene of the killings at the former Thiaroye military camp, just outside Dakar, which have long been a stain on relations between Senegal and France.
Around 1,600 soldiers from West Africa who had been captured by Germany while fighting for France were sent back to Dakar in November 1944.
After arriving at the Thiaroye military camp, discontent mounted over unpaid wages and demands to be treated on a par with white soldiers. Some protesters refused to return to their home countries without their due.
French forces opened fire on December 1, killing at least 35 people, French authorities said at the time. Historians say the real death toll could be as high as 400 as some of the victims' graves have yet to be disclosed.
Read moreThiaroye 44: Investigating a colonial-era massacre in Senegal
The 202 graves at Thiaroye cemetery are anonymous and it is not known how many are victims of the 1944 killings.
"Defenceless African heroes, armed with courage, dignity and African solidarity were killed in cold blood. It was a massacre," said Faye.
"The scale of this crime remains minimised and often even denied by some elements of the heirs of those who committed it," he added.
Elected this year on a promise to reclaim national sovereignty, Faye said there had been 80 years of "omerta", or official silence, on the deaths by Senegal's leaders.
05:09FOCUS © FRANCE 24France's President Emmanuel Macron sent a letter to Faye this week calling the event a "massacre", according to the Senegalese leader.
Barrot said at the ceremony that the Thiaroye killings were "a gaping wound in our common history".
Faye announced the letter in an interview with AFP in which he also said that France should close its military base in the West African state as part of a resetting of relations.
In the interview, Faye said that China was now Senegal's largest trading partner and investor.
"Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No."
France, faced with growing opposition to its military presence in several African countries, has said it will cut its troop numbers as part of a review.
Faye told Sunday's ceremony that it was important to pay tribute to the dead soldiers of 1944 "and establish a new relationship with ourselves, our history and the descendents of the perpetrators of this tragedy".
He praised Macron's "moral courage" for finally acknowledging that it was a "massacre" and said it would be taught in schools and streets, and public squares would be named after Thiaroye and the soldiers killed there.
Faye said the soldiers had to become part of our "collective conscience" and that telling children was not intended to arouse "resentment, anger or hatred" but to ensure the truth was revealed and remembered.
(AFP)
Senegal’s leader says France should close all army bases in country
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday said that France should close all its army bases in the country, noting that it was “incompatible” with Senegal’s national sovereignty. Faye swept to power in the March elections.
Issued on: 29/11/2024 -
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: FRANCE 24
‘Making amends’
Several other francophone countries in west and central Africa, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have been taken over by military juntas that have expelled French forces and turned to Russia for security aid instead.
Two French government sources told AFP this year that the country was looking to cut its military presence in Africa—from 350 troops to 100 in Senegal and Gabon and to 300 in Chad from 1,000 and 100 in Ivory Coast from 600.
“France remains an important partner for Senegal for the investment for Senegal and the presence of French companies and even French citizens who are in Senegal,” said Faye.
Senegal’s president said he had received a letter from Macron admitting French culpability for a World War II-era massacre at Thiaroye on December 1, 1944.
The atrocity has long been a bone of contention between Paris and Dakar.
In November 1944, around 1,600 African soldiers who had fought for France and been made prisoners of war by Germany, were sent back to Dakar, according to French historian Armelle Mabon.
Soon after arriving at the Thiaroye camp, just outside Dakar, they protested against pay delays, with some refusing to return to their home countries without their dues.
French forces opened fire on the protesters, killing at least 35, though historians say the toll could be much higher.
“I received today a letter from President Emmanuel Macron in which he acknowledges that it was a massacre, very clearly, unambiguously on the terms,” Faye said.
He praised “a great step” taken by the French leader, who Faye said apologised for not being able to make the commemoration of the massacre’s 80th anniversary.
Faye said he was considering demanding an apology from France.
“To recognise that a massacre has been committed must obviously have the effect of making amends.... we think that naturally this is what must follow. »
(AFP)
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday said that France should close all its army bases in the country, noting that it was “incompatible” with Senegal’s national sovereignty. Faye swept to power in the March elections.
Issued on: 29/11/2024 -
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: FRANCE 24
01:49
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye poses for a portrait inside the Presidential Palace in Dakar on November 28, 2024. © John Wessels, AFP
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told AFP Thursday that France should close its military bases in the West African state as it prepared to mark the 80th anniversary of a notorious colonial slaughter.
Faye said that France’s President Emmanuel Macron had admitted that his country’s troops were responsible for a “massacre” of Senegalese soldiers in 1944.
Faye hailed the acknowledgement but said that allowing French bases in the country was incompatible with national sovereignty.
“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye said in an interview at the presidential palace.
Faye swept to power in March’s elections promising to assert Senegal’s sovereignty and an end to dependence on foreign powers.
He however maintained that the act did not constitute a break with France, like those seen elsewhere in west Africa in recent years.
“Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” he said.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told AFP Thursday that France should close its military bases in the West African state as it prepared to mark the 80th anniversary of a notorious colonial slaughter.
Faye said that France’s President Emmanuel Macron had admitted that his country’s troops were responsible for a “massacre” of Senegalese soldiers in 1944.
Faye hailed the acknowledgement but said that allowing French bases in the country was incompatible with national sovereignty.
“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye said in an interview at the presidential palace.
Faye swept to power in March’s elections promising to assert Senegal’s sovereignty and an end to dependence on foreign powers.
He however maintained that the act did not constitute a break with France, like those seen elsewhere in west Africa in recent years.
“Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” he said.
‘Making amends’
Several other francophone countries in west and central Africa, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have been taken over by military juntas that have expelled French forces and turned to Russia for security aid instead.
Two French government sources told AFP this year that the country was looking to cut its military presence in Africa—from 350 troops to 100 in Senegal and Gabon and to 300 in Chad from 1,000 and 100 in Ivory Coast from 600.
“France remains an important partner for Senegal for the investment for Senegal and the presence of French companies and even French citizens who are in Senegal,” said Faye.
Senegal’s president said he had received a letter from Macron admitting French culpability for a World War II-era massacre at Thiaroye on December 1, 1944.
The atrocity has long been a bone of contention between Paris and Dakar.
In November 1944, around 1,600 African soldiers who had fought for France and been made prisoners of war by Germany, were sent back to Dakar, according to French historian Armelle Mabon.
Soon after arriving at the Thiaroye camp, just outside Dakar, they protested against pay delays, with some refusing to return to their home countries without their dues.
French forces opened fire on the protesters, killing at least 35, though historians say the toll could be much higher.
“I received today a letter from President Emmanuel Macron in which he acknowledges that it was a massacre, very clearly, unambiguously on the terms,” Faye said.
He praised “a great step” taken by the French leader, who Faye said apologised for not being able to make the commemoration of the massacre’s 80th anniversary.
Faye said he was considering demanding an apology from France.
“To recognise that a massacre has been committed must obviously have the effect of making amends.... we think that naturally this is what must follow. »
(AFP)
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