Report Says 1944 French Massacre of African Soldiers Was Premeditated
A new official report has revealed that the 1944 massacre of African soldiers by French colonial forces in Senegal was a premeditated and carefully covered-up operation, with the true death toll likely far higher than previously admitted. French authorities at the time claimed that at least 35 World War II veterans were killed at the Thiaroye camp near Dakar after they protested unpaid wages. However, a committee of researchers has found that between 300 and 400 soldiers were likely killed in what it called a “meticulously planned” attack. The 301-page report, submitted to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday, urged France to “officially request forgiveness” from the families and communities of the victims. Around 1,300 African troops from several West African countries had been sent to the Thiaroye camp in November 1944 after being released from German captivity, where […]
