Archaeologists Dig for Answers in Senegal’s Thiaroye Massacre

Archaeologists Dig for Answers in Senegal’s Thiaroye Massacre
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Archaeologists in Senegal are conducting excavations at the Thiaroye military cemetery near Dakar in a bid to uncover evidence from a World War II-era massacre of African soldiers by French colonial forces, Arab News reported. The site bears signs of recent digging as researchers seek remains linked to the December 1944 killings, when French troops opened fire on former prisoners of war protesting unpaid wages and unequal treatment.

The exact number of victims and their burial locations remain disputed. While colonial authorities claimed up to 70 soldiers were killed, a report submitted to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye this month described the massacre as premeditated and covered up, estimating 300 to 400 deaths.

Initial excavations have uncovered seven skeletons, some showing evidence of gunshot wounds or restraints. DNA and ballistic analyses are planned, while ground-penetrating radar will be used to survey more of the cemetery, which contains 202 marked graves.

French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the massacre in 2024, 80 years after the event.