Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – A controversial statement by Cheikh Oumar Diagne, Minister Advisor and Director of General Resources at the Senegalese Presidency, has ignited widespread indignation after he referred to Senegalese Tirailleurs as “drafts who fought against their brothers for crumbs.” His remarks, made during an interview with Fafa TV, have drawn criticism across social and traditional media platforms.

Diagne’s comments come just weeks after Senegal celebrated the legacy of the Tirailleurs, including a tribute to the victims of the Thiaroye Camp massacre, an incident emblematic of the injustices suffered by African soldiers who fought for France during colonial times. However, Diagne painted a starkly different picture. “The Tirailleurs were concerned about money, which was at the origin of the Thiaroye massacre,” he stated, further labeling them as complicit in colonial domination.

Public Outrage and Social Media Backlash

The remarks have sparked a firestorm of reactions. Ayoba Faye, a journalist from the Walfadjri media group, questioned the sincerity of the recent commemorations. “So, the president honored the traitors on December 1?” he wrote on Facebook, a sentiment echoed by other prominent Senegalese commentators.

Amid the backlash, Diagne attempted to clarify his stance through social media, insisting his criticism was rooted in historical context. “How can we clash with Blaise Diagne (the great recruiter) and love his recruits? During colonization, there were heroes who resisted, traitors who upheld colonial domination, and neutrals. Tell us, in which group were the Tirailleurs?” he wrote.

Diverging Views on History

The controversy has also highlighted divergent perspectives on the legacy of the Senegalese Tirailleurs. Cheikh Bara Ndiaye, a deputy from the Pastef political party, condemned Diagne’s comments, emphasizing the historical evolution of the military corps. “Generations separate those who fought against our resistance from those who became martyrs of Thiaroye. To qualify our valiant fighters of the Second World War as traitors is a confusion that should not be entertained,” Ndiaye argued.

Ndiaye also called for a more nuanced and scientific approach to this complex chapter of Senegalese history. “Historiography has already opened the debate. We must salute the memory of the combatants of the Second World War and the victims of Thiaroye,” he added.

Diagne’s remarks have inadvertently exposed a rift within Senegal’s leadership. His comments starkly contrast with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s efforts to honor the Tirailleurs as part of the country’s collective memory. The divergence in tone between the presidency’s official narrative and Diagne’s critique raises questions about the consistency of the government’s stance on historical legacy.

The uproar underscores the sensitive nature of Senegal’s colonial past and its enduring impact on national identity. For many, the Tirailleurs symbolize resilience and sacrifice, while others grapple with the moral ambiguities of their role under colonial rule. As the debate continues, calls for rigorous historical scholarship to untangle these complexities have gained traction, with Ndiaye and others advocating for a balanced approach that honors the memory of those who suffered and died.

The controversy surrounding Diagne’s comments has reignited public discourse on Senegal’s colonial legacy, posing difficult questions about how the nation remembers its past.