Senegal President Fires Minister Over Controversial Remarks About African Soldiers
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Cheikh Oumar Diagne, a government minister, after his controversial remarks labeling African soldiers who fought for colonial France as “traitors.”
Diagne, previously responsible for administration and equipment at the presidency, sparked outrage during a recent interview with FaFa TV. He referred to the Senegalese riflemen, known as “tirailleurs,” as “traitors,” stating, “They fought against their brothers.”
The tirailleurs were African infantrymen who served France during World War I, World War II, and decolonization conflicts. Diagne’s remarks drew sharp criticism from a collective representing descendants of these soldiers, as well as widespread condemnation on social media and in local media outlets.
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President Faye dismissed Diagne via presidential decree, replacing him with Papa Thione Dieng. While the official reason for the dismissal was not disclosed, government spokesperson Moustapha Njekk Sarre countered Diagne’s comments, calling the riflemen “heroes of the nation” during a radio interview with RFM.
The controversy reignited discussions about Senegal’s colonial history, coinciding with the recent commemoration of the Thiaroye massacre’s 80th anniversary. On December 1, 1944, French forces killed dozens of West African soldiers protesting unpaid wages and unequal treatment at the Thiaroye military camp in Dakar. While French records initially reported 35 deaths, historians estimate the toll could be as high as 400.
The incident continues to resonate, underscoring the sacrifices and struggles of African soldiers during and after colonial rule.
Senegal President Fires Minister Over Controversial Remarks About African Soldiers
