After spending years, and in some cases decades, living thousands of miles away from their loved ones to receive their French army pensions, a group of soldiers were finally on their way to the airport on Friday (Apr. 28).
For nine Senegalese veterans, aged between 85 and 96, who fought for France during the 20th century, this is a trip they had almost given up hope of ever making. Now, after nearly two decades in France, these brave soldiers are finally being granted the opportunity to return home and reunite with their families in Senegal.
In both World Wars and during the struggles for independence in Indochina and Algeria, hundreds of thousands of African soldiers fought under the banner of their colonial master, France. Today, there are still 37 retired colonial soldiers, such as Diao, who resides in France, as reported by the Association for the Memory and History of Senegalese Infantrymen.
But until this year, surviving veterans among the so-called “Senegalese Infantrymen” had to live in France for half the year or lose their pension.