Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, five French MPs, including Dieynaba Diop of Senegalese origin and the Socialist Party (PS), have called for the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the tragedy.
The massacre, which occurred on December 1, 1944, in Thiaroye, a suburb of Dakar, Senegal, saw dozens of Senegalese riflemen—African soldiers who fought for France during World War II—killed by French officers.
The soldiers were demanding unpaid compensation following their demobilization, and the exact number of victims remains unknown.
Dieynaba Diop emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth to address France’s colonial history and foster reconciliation. “We owe this truth to allow a peaceful memory between France and Senegal for future generations,” she stated.
In a significant acknowledgment, former French President François Hollande referred to the incident as a “massacre” and a “bloody repression” during a 2014 statement, marking one of the highest-level recognitions by French authorities of the atrocity.
The proposed inquiry, tabled as a cross-party resolution in the National Assembly, aims to provide clarity on a painful chapter of French colonial history and honor the memory of those who lost their lives.
