France Officially Acknowledges 1944 Thiaroye Massacre of African Soldiers

President Macron's recognition marks a historic step toward addressing France's colonial past, as Senegal calls for further truth and reparations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has formally recognized the 1944 Thiaroye killings of African soldiers by French colonial forces as a massacre, a first in French history.
The massacre occurred when African soldiers, primarily from Senegal and other French colonies, demanded unpaid wages after serving in World War II, leading to violent retaliation by French forces.
The official death toll remains contested, with estimates ranging from 35 to several hundred victims, and calls for full access to French archives persist.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the acknowledgment as a significant step but emphasized the need for further investigation, truth, and potential reparations.
The acknowledgment coincides with growing anti-colonial sentiment in West Africa, as Senegal's president also announced plans to end the presence of French military bases in the country.