French president Emmanuel Macron has confirmed his official visit to Senegal scheduled for December 1, 2024.
The visit, reported by Senegal’s official daily Le Soleil, coincides with the 80th anniversary of the tragic massacre on December 1, 1944 of Senegalese Tirailleurs, a corps of colonial infantry in the French army at the time.
According to Le Soleil, President Macron made the announcement last Thursday during his speech at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Provence. He explained that his presence in Dakar was at the invitation of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
This visit is part of the “Journée du Tirailleur.” It also comes at a time of renewed Franco-African relations, with the emphasis on partnership and mutual recognition. It could be an opportunity to discuss the future of bilateral relations and the common challenges facing France and Senegal.
On Sunday, July 28, 2024, Senegalese prime minister Ousmane Sonko, had commented on the French decision to recognise as “dead for France” six tirailleurs executed by the French army in Thiaroye in 1944.
Speaking on social media as leader of the Pastef-Les Patriotes party and not in his capacity as head of government, Sonko had declared: “France can no longer claim to have a monopoly on the interpretation and narration of this tragic episode of our shared history. It does not have the authority to determine alone the number of African victims who were betrayed and killed after contributing to their liberation, nor to define the nature and extent of the recognition and reparations due to them.”
On Friday, PM Sonko officially appointed the members of the committee in charge of organising the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the massacre of the Senegalese tirailleurs. This tragic event took place in a military camp in Thiaroye, on the outskirts of Dakar.
In his opening speech, the prime minister expressed his gratitude to members of the committee who had been appointed, reports the Senegalese Press Agency.
ARD/te/lb/as/APA