Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on Thursday that he had received a letter from French President Emmanuel Macron, officially recognizing the Thiaroye massacre that occurred in 1944.
President Faye said on Thursday that he had received a letter from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron,in which the latter officially recognized the Thiaroye massacre that occurred in 1944.
This announcement was during an interview with France 2, during which the Senegalese President stressed the need to lift the veil on this tragic episode in colonial history.
“Of course, we are not yet at the point of apologizing,but I must tell you that I received a letter today from President Macron in which he recognizes that it was indeed a massacre,” he said.
For President Faye, this recognition represents a major step forward, paving the way for a “frank and perfect” collaboration between Dakar and Paris to shed light on this event.
Asked about the persistent silence surrounding this affair, the Senegalese President did not hesitate to denounce maneuvers aimed at hiding the truth. “Obviously, something has been hidden. We have regularly tried to put a leaden blanket over this story,” he lamented.
However, he said he was optimistic about a sincere commitment from France, adding: “We believe that this time, France’s commitment will be total, that it will be frank and collaborative and that it will also be wholehearted in this collaboration.” The Thiaroye massacre, which saw the brutal repression of demobilized African soldiers demanding their rights after their participation in the 2nd World War, remains a source of memorial tension between Senegal and France.
The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of this event will be held this Sunday, December 1st in Thiaroye, in the suburbs of Dakar.
France will be represented by its Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, who made the announcement himself on Wednesday on X.
AC/fss/gik/APA