Ouagadougou: Minister of State Bassolma Bazié represented Burkina Faso on Sunday in Dakar at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre of African soldiers, often referred to as ‘Senegalese riflemen’. These soldiers were killed by the French army after demanding bonuses owed to them for their service during the Second World War.
According to Burkina Information Agency, on December 1, 1944, hundreds of African soldiers from various West African countries were massacred at the Thiaroye camp near Dakar. These soldiers had fought for France, with some having been imprisoned by Nazi Germany. The massacre occurred after they demanded their demobilization bonuses and other benefits from the French state. In the aftermath, approximately 34 survivors were imprisoned and denied their rightful bonuses, accused of organizing the demonstration.
Eighty years later, Senegal commemorated this tragic event to honor the memory of the soldiers who fought alongside France during the war. Minister of Sta
te, Minister of Civil Service, Labor and Social Protection, Bassolma Bazié, representing the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, attended the ceremony at the Lieutenant Amadou Lindor Fall military camp in Thiaroye. The event was chaired by the Senegalese Head of State, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
During the ceremonies, Minister Bazié participated in meditation at the Thiaroye military cemetery where the fallen soldiers are buried. He also visited an exhibition showcasing the war exploits of the riflemen. The Thiaroye massacre, which has been depicted in a film by director Ousmane Sembène, remains a poignant reminder of history. The French authorities have gradually begun to acknowledge the events as they transpired, admitting that their army was responsible for the massacre of African soldiers who were unarmed and acting within their rights.