Eight veteran Senegalese riflemen have finally returned home after French President Emmanuel Macron’s government in January lifted a six-month residency condition for their military pension.
Hundreds of thousands of African soldiers fought for France in the two world wars and against independence movements in Indochina and Algeria
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.
In January, the French state dropped the condition, saying they could return home for good and continue receiving their monthly allowance of €950 euros.
It said it would also pay for the flight and move of any veterans wishing to leave.
But for most, it is too late. Only a few dozen of the former riflemen are still alive and some of them are too frail to return home
Aïssata Seck, President of the Association for the Memory of Senegalese Riflemen said when she first met Diao and his comrades 10 years ago, many lived alone in tiny hostel rooms sharing a communal bathroom.
She says they were effectively stuck far from home because of the six-month rule, yet unable to bring their families to France on their meagre income.
Only after years of lobbying were they finally granted French nationality in 2017 by the then president, Francois Hollande.
Another victory for these old men, returned home on Friday where they can finally live in peace, surrounded by their families.
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