French leader admits dark colonial past in unexpected letter to Senegal
French President makes historic step by recognizing 1944 killings of West-African soldiers. The recognition comes as France tries to address its colonial history in the region
In a ground-breaking letter to Senegals government‚ Emmanuel Macron has finally named the 1944 Thiaroye incident a massacre — marking a big shift in how France sees its colonial past
The french presidents letter (sent just before the 80-year mark of these events) talks about what happened in Thiaroye; a small fishing-town near Dakar where french forces killed West-African soldiers. These troops had fought alongside France during World War II: yet met a tragic end at the hands of their own allies
The timing of this recognition isnt random — it comes when Frances power in West-Africa is getting smaller. Many ex-french colonies in the region have been moving away from Parisʼs influence; making their own paths in todays world-politics landscape. The once-strong ties between France and its former territories are changing fast‚ with new global players stepping into what used to be Frances sphere of influence
This move shows how Paris is trying to deal with its complex colonial history: even as its grip on the region gets weaker day-by-day
