Senegalese head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Thursday in the western town of Thies inaugurated a monument in memory of Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop, widely regarded in Senegal as a hero of resistance against European colonialism.
“By celebrating his courage and his vision, we affirm that history is not just a legacy: it is a compass for forging a united, proud and ambitious Senegal,” the president said on the occasion.
The Senegalese leader called on his compatriots to embrace these values “in order to build a nation worthy of the sacrifices of our heroes: sovereign, just and prosperous.”
Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop, also known as Joor Ngone Latyr Joop, was an emblematic figure in the history of Senegal in the 19th century. Born in 1842 in Keur Amadou Yalla, he is known as a warlord and resistance fighter against French colonisation. He belonged to the royal family of the Damels of Cayor, a region in northwestern Senegal.
He strongly opposed French colonial expansion in Senegal, particularly the construction of the Dakar-Saint Louis railroad. He saw this project as a threat to the independence of his kingdom and the way of life of his people.
A devout Muslim, he forged strategic alliances with religious leaders such as El Hadj Oumar Tall and Ahmadou Bamba. These alliances strengthened the struggle to preserve the political and spiritual autonomy of the Senegalese kingdoms.
Lat Joor was killed in 1886 during a confrontation with French troops. His death marked a turning point in Senegalese resistance, but he remains a symbolic figure of courage and determination in the face of oppression.
ARD/te/lb/as/APA