Revelation on the number of Senegalese by a historian

Invited to join the Committee responsible for establishing the facts on the Thiaroye massacre in 1944, Adama Aly Pam, historian and archivist paleographer, shares with L’Obs his discoveries on the mission carried out in France and the identification of the riflemen. It sheds light on a crucial question: how many of the victims were really Senegalese?

According to Adama Aly Pam, the term “Senegalese tirailleurs” refers to a much broader reality. “It seems that the Senegalese represented a minority among the riflemen killed in Thiaroye. In reality, this term included soldiers from 17 African countries under French colonization, including Sudanese (Malians), Voltaic (Burkinabè), Gabonese, Chadians, and many others. »

For six months, the Committee set up by the Prime Minister has been working to collect and analyze the existing documentation on this dark episode of colonial history. In collaboration with researchers, he is also continuing investigations in French archives, while exploring avenues in the United States, Great Britain, and potentially in countries in the African sub-region.

The objective of this work of remembrance is to restore historical truth and pay tribute to the victims, while deepening the understanding of the dynamics which led to this tragedy.