In a video published on his Facebook page, Cheikh Omar Diagne expressed his opinion on the Senegalese riflemen, a sensitive subject, particularly after the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre on December 1. The director of general resources of the presidency did not mince his words: according to him, the riflemen were “traitors”. He affirmed that “I do not honor the riflemen”, adding that those who honor them “do not know the riflemen”.
For Dr Diagne, these men fought against their own brothers for “nest eggs”, insisting that money was their main driving force. Referring to the Thiaroye massacre, he argued that the riflemen had refused to take the proposed exchange rate, which they considered too low, which would have led to their revolt and their “execution”. These statements immediately sparked a strong reaction, particularly among defenders of the memory of the riflemen, who see in these remarks an attempt to rewrite history.
But the controversy does not end there. Sheikh Omar Diagne also spoke about the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which he severely criticized. According to him, the States of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) should free themselves from the influence of this sub-regional institution. At the time of making these remarks, President Diomaye was charged by his peers with negotiating the return of the three countries in question within ECOWAS.
Sérigne Bara Ndiaye takes a stand
This new outing from Cheikh Omar Diagne did not fail to provoke a reaction from MP Sérigne Bara Ndiaye. On his Facebook page, the latter strongly criticized Dr Diagne's comments, believing that he had made “a bad reading of the context and the men”. According to him, qualifying the riflemen as “traitors”, at a time when their sacrifice for France during the Second World War is commemorated, is a “confusion that should not be entertained”. He denounced what he considers to be an attempt to rewrite history, and a lack of respect towards those who shed their blood for France.
Whatever happens, Cheikh Omar Diagne, close to the President of the Republic, leaves no one indifferent. His statements are often considered provocative.
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