The response was scathing. “France must review its methods!” […] She will no longer be able to tell or recount this tragic part of the story alone.”had tried Ousmane Sonko at the end of July in reaction to Paris’ decision to award the “Death for France” label to six African riflemen killed along with dozens of others in Thiaroye, on the outskirts of Dakar, on 1Ahem December 1944, by order of the colonial power.
“It’s not hers” [la France] “not to unilaterally fix the number of Africans betrayed and killed after having contributed to saving them, nor the type and extent of recognition and reparations they deserve,” The Senegalese Prime Minister continued, assuring that from now on, “Thiaroye 44, like everything, will be remembered in a different way”.
The leader of the Senegalese African Patriots for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party, a pan-Africanist group that came to power in March with the election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye as president, has since laid the groundwork for his political memorial. On August 16, a day after the ceremonies honoring the Provence landing in France – in which Bassirou Diomaye Faye did not participate – Ousmane Sonko installed, from his post as prime minister, the committee to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landing of the Senegalese army.my Anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre.
To the twenty or so academics and members of civil society gathered around him that day, he outlined the objectives to be achieved. “It is up to you to go further in revealing the truth, so that justice is done and the lessons of this tragedy are fully integrated into our collective conscience.” he ordered, alluding to the many gray areas still surrounding the massacre.
Secret documents?
How many of these former prisoners of war, who had just returned to Dakar after being arrested by the Germans, were shot by the French army for claiming their demobilisation pension? Where are they buried? The handover of a digital copy of the files by former President François Hollande to his counterpart Macky Sall in 2014 did not put an end to the controversy. Ten years later, the new Senegalese authorities, supported by some French and Senegalese researchers, suspect the existence of secret documents still in the possession of Paris.
Hence the idea, distilled in Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s entourage, of collectively presenting to France, on behalf of Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and the Ivory Coast – so many countries, including nationals who disappeared in Thiaroye – a new request for the restitution of archives. “It is a serious option, says a close friend of the head of state. Thiaroye is not a Franco-Senegalese affair but a Franco-African affair. However, only Senegal received a copy of the files, which are considered incomplete. This is an approach that could be of interest to other West African states. »
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