Thousands of African troops fought bravely in World War I and World War II, as well as in France’s colonial wars, but many remain unaware of their sacrifice. There are just 39 Senegalese tirailleurs, or sharpshooters, alive today. They only gained French nationality in 2016, which gave them the right to a state pension, but to qualify they had to live in France for six months of the year. Now, the government has finally let them receive their pension and return home. FRANCE 24 spoke to three former Senegalese sharpshooters.
