The words of a Senegalese minister are difficult to get through. Minister in charge of administration and equipment at the Presidency of the Republic, Cheikh Oumar Diagne estimated that “ those who celebrate the riflemen do not know what they are » in reality these colonial soldiers, in an interview with a local television, Fafa TV, published Saturday December 21.
He went even further by describing the Senegalese riflemen as “ traitors » having fought « their brothers » Africans during revolts or anti-colonial wars in Africa.
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In response, an eminent historian denounced comments “ unfair ». « IThere were times when France made them do a dirty job. But if we take a general average and describe the suffering and heroism they showed, it would be unfair to label them as traitors. », retorted Mamadou Fall, member of the committee commemorating the 80th anniversary of the December 1, 1944 massacre of African riflemen by the French army.
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Many gray areas
During this tragic event, which occurred in the Thiaroye military camp, near Dakar, colonial troops and French gendarmes fired on a crowd of African riflemen, killing between 35 and 191 people, depending on the sources.
France has only just recognized these events as a massacre. New President Faye's Senegal plans to teach in schools and commemorate in particular with street names.
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Despite everything, many gray areas remain regarding the circumstances of the tragedy, the number of riflemen killed, their identity, and the place of their burial.
On the internet and in the media, the minister's comments have been widely criticized, with some calling for his departure from the presidency of the Republic.
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