A Senegalese government minister was dismissed on Tuesday by President Macky Sall after he described African soldiers who fought for French colonial forces as “traitors.”
Cheikh Oumar Diagne, Minister in charge of Administration and Equipment at the Presidency, made the controversial remarks during a recent television interview.
The “Senegalese tirailleurs,” a corps of African infantrymen, served France during both World Wars and various colonial conflicts.
Diagne’s comments sparked widespread criticism, with government officials and descendants of the tirailleurs condemning his remarks as insulting and shameful.
The dismissal of Minister Diagne comes amidst heightened sensitivity surrounding the legacy of French colonialism in Africa.
Senegal recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, where French forces opened fire on African soldiers who had fought for France during World War II.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate and reckoning with the complex history of colonialism in Africa.