Senegal recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of a massacre of African soldiers by the French army in 1944. The soldiers were shot by French soldiers in Thiaroye for demanding fair treatment and payment after fighting for France during World War II. The French military claims that 35 to 75 soldiers were killed, but historians believe nearly 400 people died. Senegal has long demanded an official apology and investigation into the massacre.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently acknowledged the massacre in a letter to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Macron expressed a commitment to uncovering the truth behind the killings and working with Senegalese officials. This was seen as a positive step towards justice and reconciliation. Former Senegalese Prime Minister Aminata Toure stated that it is important for young people to know the truth about their history and that the massacre has been hidden for too long.
This commemoration comes at a time when France is facing opposition to its military presence in African countries and has announced plans to reduce the number of its soldiers. Some West African countries are turning to Russia for security assistance instead. The renewed calls for an investigation into the Thiaroye massacre highlight the ongoing impact of colonial-era atrocities on the relationship between France and its former colonies.
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