French President Emmanuel Macron has officially recognized the 1944 killing of West African soldiers by French troops in Thiaroye, Senegal, as a “massacre.”
The killings, which claimed 35 to 400 lives, followed demands by Tirailleurs Sénégalais soldiers for unpaid wages after World War II.
French forces, claiming mutiny, rounded up the mostly unarmed soldiers and opened fire.
Macron’s letter, addressed to Senegalese authorities, called for uncovering the full truth and backed a fact-finding committee led by historian Mamadou Diouf.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed Macron’s acknowledgment, calling it a step toward justice and closure for the nation.
Amid declining French influence in West Africa, Faye suggested reevaluating ties with France, including its military presence in Senegal.
