France

Unveiling a Buried Truth: The Thiaroye Massacre and France’s Colonial Legacy In the shadows of history lies the forgotten story of the Thiaroye massacre, a tragic event that has recently come under the spotlight with revelations pointing to a deliberate cover-up. On December 1, 1944, French troops opened fire on West African soldiers demanding their due pay at the Thiaroye camp near Dakar, Senegal. For decades, the official death toll was reported as at least 35. Yet, new findings suggest that these numbers are drastically…

The Untimely Death of Nathi Mthethwa: A Complex Legacy In the heart of Paris, beneath the shadow of promise and tragedy, the body of Nkosinathi Emmanuel "Nathi" Mthethwa was discovered outside his hotel. The South African ambassador to France and former cabinet minister was found lifeless after the window to his high-rise room had been forcibly opened. He was 58 years old. A Diplomatic Journey Interrupted Mthethwa had just begun his role as ambassador in December 2023, serving as South Africa's envoy to one of its key…

South African ambassador to France found dead in Paris; circumstances unclear What is known South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, was found dead outside a Paris hotel on Sept. 30, about 24 hours after his wife reported him missing, according to a brief notice shared with reporters. Beyond the basic facts of the discovery and the missing-person report, few official details have been released and the cause of death has not been made public. The sudden death of a senior diplomat in a major capital raises…

France-Mali Relations in Crisis: A Diplomatic Breakdown In a move that echoes the increasingly fraught ties between France and Mali, Paris has announced the suspension of counterterrorism cooperation with the West African nation. This decision follows the August arrest of a French diplomat in Mali's capital, Bamako, and marks a significant escalation in a diplomatic rift that has been deepening since military coups shook the country in 2020 and 2021. The Unraveling of Cooperation The French government has ordered its…

Sowing Seeds of Change: Senegal and France Redefine Their Relationship On a crisp autumn afternoon, the stately halls of the Élysée Palace echoed with the voices of two leaders navigating a complex web of history, diplomacy, and shared aspirations. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and French President Emmanuel Macron sat down for a meeting that was expected to redefine the longstanding relationship between their nations. With the backdrop of France's recent military withdrawal from Senegal, ending over six decades…

France Reconsiders Its Colonial Legacy: Macron's Acknowledgment of Rights Violations in Cameroon In a significant yet long-overdue reflection on historical injustices, French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged the “repressive violence” that defined France’s actions during Cameroon’s arduous struggle for independence in the 1950s. This declaration arises from a broader reckoning with the colonial past that is entwined in the very fabric of France's identity. Macron's remarks were articulated in a heartfelt letter to…

The father of a French student, whose testimony regarding the use of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad in a free speech lesson contributed to the gruesome murder of a teacher, is now facing trial on charges of associating with a terrorist network. This chilling sequence of events unfolded in 2020 when Samuel Paty, aged 47, introduced his class to the caricatures. In retaliation, an 18-year-old assailant from Chechnya brutally attacked him outside his school located in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb of…

Born in France, Menka Gomis chose to carve his future in Senegal, the birthplace of his parents.The 39-year-old is among the growing wave of French Africans exiting France, attributing it to the surge in racism, discrimination, and extreme nationalism.BBC Africa Eye has been delving into this "silent exodus," investigating why individuals like Mr. Gomis feel disenchanted with life in France.Establishing a travel agency, the Parisian now offers travel packages connecting individuals to their African roots and operates an…

Lee Carsley faced his first hurdles as England's stand-in coach following an audacious lineup choice that went awry, leading to a 2-1 defeat against Greece in the Nations League on Thursday. Meanwhile, at just 24, Erling Haaland set a new milestone for Norway by becoming the top scorer with his brace in a commanding 3-0 victory over Slovakia. On the flip side, even without the iconic figures of Kylian Mbappé and the retired Antoine Griezmann, France comfortably overpowered Israel 4-1. Carsley, having steered England to…

PARIS/LONDON — In a concerted diplomatic maneuver, France and the UK have expressed their refusal to join any potential U.S. military endeavors against Iran. This decision comes on the heels of Iran's responsive attacks on Israel dated April 13, 2024. Both countries urged Israel to show restraint and avoid responding with force on Iranian territories, sources acquainted with the affairs have indicated. Their appeal for calm follows a surge in tensions across the Middle East, ignited when Iran, along with its allies,…