France’s colonial legacy was the focus of a roundtable held at African Memorial Square in Dakar, where journalists, historians, and pan-African activists called for reparations and economic justice.
The meeting was organised by advocacy groups, including the Association of Descendants of Senegalese Soldiers, the Front for the Withdrawal of French Military Bases (GASSI), and JIF’AFRIK. The discussions centred on two key demands: reparations for colonial-era injustices and the renegotiation of trade and military agreements that activists say sustain economic dependence on France.
Babacar Dioh, representing the Thiaroye 44 Movement, a coalition of descendants of Senegalese tirailleurs, said, “The time for symbolic gestures is over. We are now filing an official reparations claim and taking concrete steps to hold France accountable.”
Souleymane Jules Diallo, leader of JIF’AFRIK, also addressed the gathering, calling for structural change to dismantle what he described as lingering neocolonial frameworks. Speakers highlighted the ecological, social, and financial impacts of colonialism, which they said continue to affect Senegal and the wider region.
The roundtable signals Dakar’s growing role as a centre for African-led advocacy on reparations. Organisers said the event was part of a broader continental movement seeking formal acknowledgment of historical injustices and tangible actions from former colonial powers.
The groups pledged to continue lobbying regional and international bodies to ensure their demands for reparations and sovereignty are addressed.
