France, Jan. 23 -- Yoro Diao, 94, is one of the few surviving Senegalese tirailleurs -African colonial riflemen who fought in the French army during the country's biggest 20th century conflicts. But once the wars were over they began a new battleagainst the French administrationto get better pension rights. Despite the difficulties, Diao's loyalty to France remainsunshakeable.
After 22 years shuttling between Senegal and France - where he lives in a migrant hostel in Bondy, north of Paris-Diao is preparing to return for good to his native village of Dagana in Saint-Louis.
The French government recently announced that he and 38 other surviving tirailleurswould no longer have to spend six months in France each year to claim their monthly st...