N’Dongo Dieng, an 89-year-old Senegalese African Tirailleur, resides in Mbao, a suburb of Dakar. He enlisted in the colonial army in 1954 and was sent to Algeria two years later. His family has a long tradition of military service, with four of his sons joining the ranks of the Senegalese army or gendarmerie. He recalls his recruitment vividly, mentioning how his father encouraged him to become a soldier after hearing a march during a celebration on July 14th. Following his father’s suggestion, N’Dongo Dieng went to the barracks and donned the military uniform. His grandfather and father also served in wars, with his grandfather fighting in World War I and his father participating in the landing in Provence in 1944.
With the 80th anniversary of the Provence landing approaching, N’Dongo Dieng plans to commemorate the event in Toulon on August 15th, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Senegalese Minister of Defense Birame Diop. Accompanied by the Association for the Memory and History of Senegalese Tirailleurs (AMHTS), led by Frenchwoman Aïssata Seck, N’Dongo Dieng will travel to France with four other former Tirailleurs to attend the event. All five men were born in the 1930s and fought under the French flag. N’Dongo Dieng specifically served in Algeria from 1956 to 1958, recalling the strangeness of facing African Muslims as enemies while sharing a similar heritage.
N’Dongo Dieng’s experience in Algeria and the history of the Tirailleurs in various colonial conflicts, including Indochina and Algeria, are highlighted by historian Anthony Guyon. He points out that the Tirailleurs were originally created to conquer and maintain colonies, continuing to be mobilized during decolonization periods to suppress uprisings in colonized territories. The French military sent tens of thousands of Tirailleurs to Indochina, fearing solidarity among Muslim soldiers if deployed to Algeria. The importance of recognizing the service and sacrifices of these African soldiers in colonial wars is emphasized, but often their contributions are overlooked or acknowledged too late.
The upcoming commemoration events in Toulon serve as an opportunity to honor the memory of the Tirailleurs and their significant role in French colonial history. The presence of President Macron and other officials underscores the importance of acknowledging and remembering the contributions of these African soldiers. N’Dongo Dieng’s personal story, along with the histories of his fellow Tirailleurs, sheds light on the complex and often forgotten aspects of colonial conflicts and the involvement of African soldiers. The journey to France for the anniversary event represents a chance to pay tribute to these veterans and ensure that their stories are not forgotten.
As N’Dongo Dieng prepares to join his former comrades in Toulon for the commemoration, the significance of their service and the challenges they faced during colonial wars are brought to the forefront. Their roles in various conflicts, from Indochina to Algeria, demonstrate the widespread deployment of African Tirailleurs in support of French colonial interests. The history of these soldiers reflects a complex legacy of colonialism and the struggles faced by African individuals who served in European armies. By recognizing their contributions and ensuring their stories are preserved, a more inclusive and accurate understanding of colonial history can be achieved.
