France's President Emmanuel Macron has for the first time recognized the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre.

Senegal on Sunday commemorated 80 years since the killing of dozens of African troops by French forces that the former colonial master acknowledged this week had been a "massacre".

Senegal on Sunday (December 1) commemorated the 80th anniversary of a massacre of African soldiers who fought for France during World War Two, and were gunned down by French troops in 1944 for demanding fair treatment and payment on their return.

On Senegal marks the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (November 28) for the first time recognized the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre in a letter addressed to the Senegalese authorities.