Senegal will on this Thursday present an official report to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye detailing the 1944 massacre of African soldiers by French forces at the Thiaroye military camp near Dakar.
The troops, many of whom were West African veterans who had fought for France during World War II, were protesting delayed pay and unequal treatment when French soldiers opened fire, killing at least 35 people—though historians estimate the toll could be as high as 400.
The incident, long shrouded in secrecy, remains one of the darkest episodes in France’s colonial history in Africa. Commissioned in April 2024, the report was prepared by a committee of Senegalese researchers tasked with uncovering the truth about the massacre, including the identities and burial sites of the victims.
According to a Government statement, the white paper is the result of “rigorous research and documentation” aimed at honouring the memory of the fallen soldiers and promoting collective historical recognition.
Senegal has accused France of withholding key archival materials despite earlier assurances of transparency. The submission comes nearly a year after France formally acknowledged the massacre, marking a renewed effort toward historical justice and reconciliation.