Senegal: nine skirmishers finally back in their country

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Video length: 3 mins.

FRANCE 3

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N. Bertrand, M. Boyé, P. Favennec, O. Schmoll, M. Guillaume, T. Pham-Hung – France 3

France Televisions

Nine skirmishers, who fought for France, particularly in Indochina and Algeria, arrived on the evening of April 28 in Senegal. They will be able to live there while keeping their pensions. A return full of emotions.

This is probably their last fight and their last victory after a long battle against the French administration. Nine Senegalese riflemen arrived in Senegal on the evening of April 28 and fell into the arms of their loved ones. They are between 85 and 96 years old and will be able to end their lives at home. “Very happy to find my family, my brothers, my children”confides Oumar Dieme, Senegalese skirmisher.

The government grants an exemption

The nine men fought for France in the wars in Indochina and Algeria. Despite this, they had the obligation to stay in France at least six months a year if they wanted to keep their old-age allowance of 950 euros per month. The French government has just granted them an exemption, thanks among other things, to the fight of a skirmisher’s granddaughter. After their arrival, the skirmishers were immediately received at the presidential palace with great fanfare and were decorated.


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