The first archaeological excavations at a cemetery near Dakar, where French soldiers massacred African troops after World War II, have uncovered skeletons bearing bullet wounds, an informed source told AFP on Wednesday.
Excavations began in early May at the Thiaroye military camp, aiming to shed light on the tragic 1944 incident in which dozens—possibly hundreds—of African soldiers who fought for France were killed after protesting delayed pay.
This event remains one of the most brutal massacres of the French colonial era, yet uncertainties persist over the exact number of victims, their identities, and the precise burial sites.
While French authorities at the time officially reported 35 deaths, historians estimate the toll may have reached as many as 400.
“Human skeletons were found with bullets lodged in their bodies, some in the chest,” the source close to the investigation told AFP. The bullets recovered vary in calibre, suggesting different firearms were used.
So far, only a small portion of the cemetery has been excavated. Further analysis—including ballistics tests—will help identify the types of weapons involved, while DNA testing aims to confirm the identities of those buried there.
In November 1944, approximately 1,600 West African soldiers, captured by German forces while fighting for France, arrived at Thiaroye camp. Their growing dissatisfaction over unpaid wages and demands for equal treatment with white soldiers led some to refuse repatriation without receiving their rightful pay.
On December 1, French troops opened fire on the protesting soldiers.
For years, historians and activists have urged for formal excavations at Thiaroye to uncover the full truth behind the massacre.
In February, the Senegalese government, accusing France of withholding archival records crucial to understanding the scale of the killings, announced the excavation initiative as part of efforts to reveal the complete history.
Last November, France officially acknowledged the massacre for the first time, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the event, which Senegal commemorated with unprecedented vigour.
