HISTORICAL EVENT REVEALED: 80 YEARS LATER, SENEGAL’S THIAROYE MASSACRE COMMEMORATED
Sunday, December 1, 1944 will remain etched in Senegal’s memory as one of the darkest pages of its colonial history. That day, French armed forces opened fire on African soldiers, mainly tirailleurs, demanding their pay in Thiaroye. This brutal and unjustified act left a deep scar in the social fabric of the country, leaving behind unanswered questions and shattered lives.
Today, 80 years later, Senegal remembers this tragic event by organizing commemorations to pay tribute to the victims and reaffirm its commitment to never forget. Posters with poignant imagery flood the streets of the Senegalese capital, carrying within them the weight of this painful history.
The commitment of the Senegalese authorities to commemorate this massacre is more than symbolic, it is a strong political act. It is a desire to face history, to re-establish the truth and to take possession of its own collective memory. Historian Mamadou Diouf, president of the organizing committee of the commemorations, underlines the importance of this act of sovereignty in a context where France is accused of trying to erase this crime from the collective memory.
The recent recognition by French President Emmanuel Macron of the reality of the “massacre” of Thiaroye is a crucial first step towards truth and justice. However, the Senegalese authorities insist on obtaining full light on the events of this fateful day, particularly with regard to the number of victims and the exact circumstances of the massacre.
With this in mind, a commission of Senegalese historians and archivists has been set up to re-examine the available archives and shed light on what really happened in Thiaroye. His work, meticulous and essential, aims to restore the dignity of the victims and to do justice to their memory, by shedding light on the truth behind the official figures and the often biased narratives.
The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre is therefore a crucial moment in Senegal’s history, where the search for truth and justice is intertwined with the need to remember and pay tribute to the victims. It is a moral and historical duty for the country, but also a call to the collective conscience so that such acts are never repeated.
On this day of commemoration, while President Emmanuel Macron will be absent, the importance of this event goes beyond national borders. The leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States, mainly concerned as nations whose soldiers were also affected during the massacre, should be represented by their Prime Minister. The solidarity and fraternity between these countries bear witness to the importance of this shared duty of remembrance, which transcends political and geographical borders.
In conclusion, the commemoration of the Thiaroye massacre is a moment charged with symbolism and emotion, a poignant reminder of the tragic history of colonialism and the struggle for truth and justice. It is a step towards reconciliation with the past and a commitment to a future where such injustices will not be repeated. In this way, Senegal marks its history and identity, reminding the world of the strength of its memory and its resilience in the face of adversity.