Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed his Minister of Administration and Equipment at the Presidency, Cheikh Oumar Diagne, on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, following controversial remarks about the Tirailleurs Sénégalais. During a televised interview on Fafa TV on December 21, the minister referred to these soldiers as “traitors”, stating that they “fought against their own brothers”.
The Tirailleurs Sénégalais were African soldiers recruited by the French colonial forces starting in 1857. Despite their name, they were not exclusively from Senegal but included troops from several West and Central African French colonies. These soldiers played a crucial role in major conflicts, including both World Wars and the African independence wars. While some view them as brave warriors who helped liberate France, others criticize their forced enlistment and their involvement in fighting for the colonial power against their own people.
Cheikh Oumar Diagne’s statements sparked widespread outrage, even among supporters of the president, leading to the first public rift within the government since Bassirou Diomaye Faye took office in March 2024. This incident highlights the ongoing debates surrounding the legacy of the Tirailleurs Sénégalais and their place in post-colonial history in Senegal and Africa as a whole.
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