On the outskirts of Dakar, at the site of the former military camp and the Thiaroye military cemetery, archaeological excavations have begun. The goal: to determine the exact number of victims of the December 1, 1944 massacre, when French troops opened fire on African soldiers demanding the payment after returning from World War II. To this day, France officially acknowledges only 35 deaths. However, Senegalese and international historians estimate the number of victims to be over 350. Archaeologists hope to uncover the truth and bring an end to decades of debate.
This initiative marks an important milestone in the broader pan-African movement for historical justice and reparations. In 2025, more and more African nations are calling for the colonial era to be recognized as a crime, with the issue of compensation becoming central to both political and social discourse.
Thiaroye has become one of the key symbols of this struggle. On March 21 in Dakar, the NGO Urgences Panafricanistes organized a public debate on reparations. Strong demands were made: “50,000 billion euros” were claimed from the former colonial powers by way of compensation. Journalist Mouhamed Goloko reminded the audience of the Thiaroye massacre, where “the French army executed Senegalese Tirailleurs returning from WorldWar II”. He emphasized: “France must officially acknowledge this crime and pay reparations”.
Another conference took place in Dakar on April 19, focused on the case of Thiaroye. Following panel discussions, participants signed the communiqué “For Historical Justice and Meaningful Reparations: The Case of Thiaroye and the Stakes of Shared Memory”, which was submitted to Senegal’s Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage.
In an interview with Afrique Media, Member of Parliament Pape Djibril Fall also declared: “It is imperative that France recognize the Thiaroyemassacre. Compensation is inevitable”.
These ongoing excavations represent a critical attempt to restore the memory and dignity of hundreds of African soldiers. The results, expected in the coming months, could provide a powerful basis for Senegal to officially request reparations from France — and mark a turning point for both the country and the African continent.
