APA-Dakar (Senegal) The infantrymen who fought during the two great wars used to live in France, where they were obliged to stay six months a year to receive their retirement pension.
Their dream will finally come true. Nine former ‘Senegalese Tirailleurs,’ who lived in France until now, will return to Senegal on Friday, April 28, 2023, to spend the rest of their lives in their country of origin.
Aged 85 to 96, these men, who served in the French army during the wars in Indochina (1946-1954) and Algeria (1954-1962), were until now obliged to live in France for at least six months a year in order to receive a retirement pension.
According to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Armed Forces (DIRPA), the return of Yoro Diao (95), Oumar Dieme (91) and their brothers in arms is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Blaise Diagne International Airport. They will be welcomed by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sidiki Kaba, in the company of senior military
authorities.
The nine men who will return to Dakar were received on Friday, April 14 by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The latter, on behalf of the French state, granted them exceptional financial aid to finance their return trip and their resettlement in Senegal.
The infantry corps of Senegalese riflemen was created by Napoleon III in 1857 in Senegal, hence its name.
It was later expanded in its recruitment to include men from other parts of West and Central Africa conquered by France in the late 19th century.
More than 200,000 riflemen fought in the First World War, 150,000 in the Second World War, and
60,000 in Indochina.
ARD/ac/fss/as/APA