President Adama Barrow has marked the 81st anniversary of the 1944 Thiaroye massacre in Senegal, describing the killings as “not a mutiny but a cold blooded execution of unarmed men whose only crime was to demand what was rightfully theirs.”

Speaking at the commemoration, President Barrow said The Gambia shares in the pain of the tragic event, stressing that Gambians are not here as distant observers but as affected and concerned victims who stand in solidarity with the descendants of the Senegalese Infantry.

He praised Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his government for their commitment to uncovering the full truth about Thiaroye, describing the international research efforts as a crucial step towards historical justice.

Barrow also said colonial crimes should be taught honestly so that future generations understand both the crimes committed and the resilience with which our ancestors resisted.

The Thiaroye massacre took place on 1 December 1944 at a military camp near Dakar.

West African soldiers known as Tirailleurs Senegalais, who had fought for France in World War II, were unjustly shot by French colonial troops after demanding fair pay and compensation for their service.

The victims included soldiers from Senegal, Gambia, Mali and other territories in West Africa.