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00:00Today marks 80 years since the Tiaroy Massacre, a dark chapter in French colonial history
00:05here in West Africa, one that has been largely unspoken for years.
00:10On the 1st of December 1944, the Senegalais Tirailleurs, a West African infantry of riflemen,
00:18had arrived back in West Africa repatriated after being liberated from the camps in Europe
00:23after fighting alongside French troops against the Nazis when they were gunned down.
00:28The men from dozens of countries across West Africa had arrived in the Tiaroy camp just
00:33on the outskirts of Dakar to collect their pensions when they were shot by the French
00:36colonial troops.
00:38Records say that 35 people were killed, where in fact historians believe the number is much
00:43more likely to be in the hundreds.
00:45Today, hundreds will gather to commemorate the event at the Tiaroy camp, including heads
00:50of state from across West Africa, led by President Jomai Faye.
00:56And French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrault is also believed to be in attendance.
01:03The issue has been a bone of contention between Paris and Dakar for years, and it was only
01:08in 2014 when President François Hollande even acknowledged that the event happened.
01:13This week, President Emmanuel Macron, in a letter to President Jomai Faye of Senegal,
01:17called the event a massacre, an important milestone for people here in Senegal, acknowledging
01:22that there was French agency when it comes to this event.
01:26But for Senegal, this is not far enough.
01:28The president has said there still needs to be more information when it comes to who died,
01:32how they died, how many died, and where they are buried.
01:36In the past few years, the region more generally has seen a shift when it comes to its foreign
01:40and military policy towards France.
01:42Just this week, Chad severed ties with the French military, and Senegal called for the
01:47closure of the military bases here in the country.
01:51So it will be interesting to see what tone is struck at the ceremony today.