TRACT – 80 years ago, the tragedy of Thiaroye in Senegal made history. In the town’s military camp, riflemen who had just returned from France, who requested payment of their war pay, were killed by the French army, accused by France of rebellion. This tragic story began in the town of Morlaix, in Brittany, where the riflemen left. The city officially paid tribute for the first time to these men, during a ceremony on Friday, November 1st morning.
Bell ringing for the dead, minute of silence, and intense emotion in this resistance square, describes our special correspondent, Guillaume Thibault. A symbolic place chosen for this ceremony where the mayor of Morlaix Jean-Paul Vermot paid tribute to the 2,000 Senegalese riflemen, welcomed in Morlaix for ten days and left the town by boat to reach Dakar, on November 5, 1944.
Yes, African soldiers came to liberate us. I believe that we must shed light on all the tragedies that have punctuated our common history and also project ourselves into a future that must be common,” he declared.
Recognize the truth about this tragedy
The mayor of Thiaroye, Mbaye Sène, was unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons. It was Bachir Sy, the director of the Thiaroye 44 festival, who was appointed to represent him and to read his speech. A speech of thanks and a call for the truth about the Thiaroye tragedy to finally be known.
“Among other things, we want the number of martyrs to be clarified. We hope that archaeological excavations will be carried out to find out the exact burial place of these Senegalese riflemen, reported Bachir Sy.
Among the members of the group working on the memory and writing of the history of this drama, there is Dieynaba Sarr. This French teacher at Thiaroye high school was present at the ceremony.
“We hope that we will move towards recognition of this History, to give them the honors they deserve.”
Dieynaba Sarr, French teacher at Thiaroye high school, Senegal
As soon as they arrived in Morlaix on October 26, 1944, the 2,000 Senegalese riflemen demanded payment of their war pay. Balance which was never completely settled and which is at the origin of the tragedy of Thiaroye. With this tribute, which closed with French and Senegalese anthems, the town of Morlaix responds to the call of history.
On the other hand, for Karfa Diallo, son of a veteran and founder of the Mémoires&Partages movement, we must go further. He asks, at the microphone of our journalist Welly Diallo, the opening of a parliamentary commission of inquiry and a formal apology from France.
“There are still many gray areas, particularly regarding the number of riflemen victims,” says Karfa Diallo, son of a veteran and founder of the movement.
Three weeks before the 80th anniversary of Thiaroye which took place on December 1, 1944, Tract.sn asks the question: what are the strong, symbolic and significant commemorations planned by the GOS, Ousmane Sonko Government? Nothing to our knowledge. Unless you tinker with something at the last minute, as the Specialized Worker PM has accustomed us to.
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