New findings aim to clarify long-hidden details of 1944 killings of African soldiers by French forces.

An official report commissioned by Senegal on the 1944 killing of dozens of African World War II soldiers by French forces will be submitted to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday.

The massacre occurred at the Thiaroye military camp near Dakar, where African troops who had fought for France protested delayed wages.

French forces opened fire on December 1, killing at least 35 men, according to French records. Historians, however, estimate the death toll could be as high as 400.

Many questions remain, including the identities of the victims, their burial sites, and the total number killed.

The soldiers, known as riflemen or *tirailleurs*, came not only from Senegal but also from across West Africa.

In April 2024, the Senegalese government formed a committee of researchers to investigate the incident and produce a detailed report.

The resulting white paper, according to a government statement issued Wednesday, will shed light on the circumstances of the massacre, honor the victims, and promote historical recognition among affected nations.

The report is being submitted nearly six months later than originally planned.

Around 1,600 West African soldiers who had been captured while serving France during the war were repatriated to Dakar in late 1944.

Their protest over unpaid wages and unequal treatment compared to white soldiers led to the deadly confrontation at Thiaroye.

CBI News reports that Senegal has accused France of withholding key archival materials that could clarify the full extent of the killings. In 2014, former French President François Hollande claimed to have handed over a complete copy of the Thiaroye archives.

In November 2024, on the eve of the massacre’s 80th anniversary, France officially acknowledged the incident.

Senegal marked the occasion with an unprecedented national commemoration.