On Wednesday, the Senegalese government announced plans to undertake archaeological excavations to uncover "the truth" about the number of African soldiers killed in 1944 by French colonial forces at Thiaroye, near Dakar. The decision was conveyed in a communiqué following a government meeting.
On December 1, 1944, French colonial forces fired on repatriated tirailleurs from combat in Europe who were demanding the payment of back wages. These soldiers were not only Senegalese but also came from other African countries, and researchers have long claimed that the African soldiers were killed while demanding their back pay.
The massacre was recognized as such by France on the eve of its 80th anniversary, December 1, 2024. This year, Senegal commemorated the events of December 1, 1944, at the Thiaroye military camp with unprecedented scale.
Historians have long debated the death toll of the Thiaroye massacre. The authorities of France at the time admitted the death of 35 people in the incident. However, several historians estimate the number of victims to be much higher. According to Le Monde, some suggest that up to 400 repatriated tirailleurs were killed at the Thiaroye barracks during the massacre.
As part of efforts to honor the victims, Senegalese authorities announced that streets, squares, and buildings will be named after those who lost their lives in the massacre. Additionally, the history of the Thiaroye massacre will be taught in schools, as announced by the Senegalese authorities.
"To manifest the whole truth about the number of victims, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko informed the Council of Ministers that the required additional information is still awaited," according to Le Monde.
The Senegalese government has reproached France for hiding the truth about the Thiaroye massacre by withholding archival documents that would reveal the human toll, as reported by Mediapart.
Specific locations for the archaeological digs have not been indicated. Possible sites include a cemetery in the suburbs of Dakar, where victims are presumed to be buried, and the military camp where the massacre occurred. Researchers have been demanding excavations at these two sites for many years to gather more information about the massacre, according to Ouest-France.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.