Thiaroye massacre’s 80th anniversary: Senegal shuts down all French military bases

Senegalese authorities have directed the closure of all French military bases in the country as the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre approaches.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in an interview with AFP which was monitored by Diaspora Digital Media, reiterated that French military presence in Senegal is incompatible with the country’s sovereignty.

Faye, who won the March elections with a vow to assert Senegal’s independence, commented on France’s acknowledgment of its role in the 1944 massacre, in which Senegalese soldiers were killed by French forces.

“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” he said from the presidential palace.

Although Senegal seeks to assert its sovereignty, Faye emphasised that this decision does not sever ties with France, unlike the actions of other West African nations.

“Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” he remarked.

Faye’s comments come in the context of a broader shift in West Africa, where countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French forces in favour of Russian military support.

French government sources recently revealed plans to reduce its African military presence, including cutting troops in Senegal from 350 to 100.

While France remains a key partner to Senegal in trade and investment, Faye acknowledged that France’s apology for the Thiaroye massacre marked an important step forward.

He received a letter from French President Macron admitting responsibility for the 1944 massacre, where at least 35 Senegalese soldiers were killed after protesting delayed pay.

“I received today a letter from President Emmanuel Macron in which he acknowledges that it was a massacre, very clearly, unambiguously on the terms,” Faye said.

Faye called Macron’s acknowledgment a “great step” but also expressed his intention to seek further reparations.

“To recognise that a massacre has been committed must obviously have the effect of making amends, we think that naturally this is what must follow,” he added.

Thiaroye massacre

The Thiaroye massacre was a tragic event that occurred on December 1, 1944, in Thiaroye, a suburb of Dakar, Senegal.

The massacre was perpetrated by French colonial troops against African soldiers who had been part of the French army during World War II.

The African soldiers, who were mostly from Senegal and other West African countries, had been recruited by the French to fight against the Nazis.

After the war, they were stationed in Thiaroye, where they were awaiting repatriation to their home countries.

However, tensions arose when the French colonial authorities refused to pay the African soldiers their wages and benefits, which they had been promised.

The soldiers, who were already frustrated with the poor living conditions and racist treatment they had received from their French commanders, demanded that their grievances be addressed.

The French authorities responded to the soldiers’ demands with brutal force. On December 1, 1944, French troops opened fire on the African soldiers, killing at least 35 people and wounding many more.

The exact number of deaths is still disputed, with some estimates ranging as high as 300.

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