France Recognizes Six African Riflemen as 'Died for France'
In a historic decision, six African riflemen who were executed in 1944 at the Thiaroye military camp in Senegal have been posthumously recognized as having 'died for France.' This acknowledgment comes from the French National Office of Combatants and Victims of War (ONaCVG) as part of the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of France and the events of Thiaroye. The recognition includes four riflemen from Senegal, one from Ivory Coast, and one from Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). This decision marks a significant step in addressing the painful legacy of colonial history between France and its former colonies.
The Thiaroye Massacre: A Painful Chapter in Franco-African History
On December 1, 1944, colonial troops and French gendarmes opened fire on repatriated riflemen at the Thiaroye camp who were demanding their unpaid arrears. The French authorities at the time reported at least 35 deaths, but historians believe the actual number may be much higher. The trauma of this event continues to resonate in Senegal and across Africa. This recent acknowledgment by the French government has sparked a dialogue about the need for a more comprehensive understanding of this tragic history. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko emphasized that France cannot unilaterally determine the narrative of these events, advocating for a shared recognition and reparations for the victims' families.
- The Thiaroye camp massacre is a significant moment in the history of the Senegalese Tirailleurs, a corps formed from soldiers of former French colonies who fought valiantly in both World Wars. The recognition of these six riflemen is seen as part of a broader effort to confront France's colonial past. Former French President François Hollande previously acknowledged the tragedy, but this recent decision represents a new phase in the ongoing discourse about colonial history and its implications for modern France and its former colonies. Activists and historians are now calling for archaeological investigations into the mass graves of the victims to establish a clearer understanding of the historical context and the true scale of the tragedy.
