Has France finally faced its dark colonial past? For the first time, French President Emmanuel Macron has labeled the 1944 killings of West African soldiers by the French Army a massacre. This significant admission comes just days before the 80th anniversary of the tragedy in Thiaroye, a village on the outskirts of Dakar, where between 35 and 400 soldiers, mainly from Senegal, were gunned down by French forces.
In a letter addressed to Senegalese authorities, Macron acknowledged the brutal act after a dispute over unpaid wages among the troops who had fought for France during World War II. On December 1, 1944, as tensions over unpaid salaries boiled over, French soldiers rounded up the West African soldiers, many of whom were unarmed, and executed them. The event once minimized as a “mutiny,” is now openly acknowledged by Macron as a massacre that left deep scars on the West African community.
The letter marks a dramatic shift in France’s stance toward its colonial history, particularly as Macron attempts to rebuild relations with its former African colonies. In the past, France has resisted calls for a complete reckoning, but this move signals that a change may be in the air. It comes at a time when France’s influence in West Africa is waning, as countries like Senegal seek greater economic autonomy and begin to distance themselves from their colonial past.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who received Macron’s letter, called it a step toward transparency and healing. He emphasized that the recognition of the massacre should pave the way for uncovering the whole truth about the events at Thiaroye, a moment of national reckoning long sought by Senegalese officials and historians alike. “This is a significant gesture,” Faye said. “It opens the door to the full truth.”
Macron’s letter reads: “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 also acknowledged the need for a deeper investigation into the causes and facts surrounding the massacre and expressed his support for Senegal’s efforts to establish a “Committee for the Restoration of the Facts,” headed by Professor Mamadou Diouf.
But Macron’s words raise essential questions: Is this enough to repair the historical wounds that have festered for decades? And what does this recognition mean for France’s ongoing relationship with its former colonies, especially as they increasingly seek economic and political independence from Paris?
Macron’s letter comes amid shifting political dynamics in Senegal. In recent elections, President Faye’s party, PASTEF, secured a majority, reinforcing his mandate to carry out reforms, including pushing for greater economic autonomy from foreign powers like France. This shift toward economic independence could have profound implications for France’s role in the region, especially in countries like Senegal, where French companies have long held substantial investments.
President Faye has been blunt about the issue of French military presence in Senegal. While maintaining a cooperative stance, he alluded to the growing discomfort of having foreign troops at Senegal’s borders. “Historically, France enslaved, colonized, and remained here,” Faye said, challenging the notion of foreign military bases in the region. “When you reverse the roles a little, you will have difficulty conceiving that another army, China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country could have a military base in France.”
With France’s historical legacy under scrutiny, the road ahead is uncertain. Can Macron’s apology for the Thiaroye massacre open the door to a more honest dialogue between France and its former colonies? Or will it be a token gesture in the face of more profound, unresolved issues between France and West Africa? The world is watching as France and Senegal navigate the complicated terrain of post-colonial relations.
