French-born individuals are increasingly seeking a future in Africa

Menka Gomis, 39, born in France, has chosen to pursue his future in Senegal, his parents’ birthplace. He is among a growing number of French Africans departing France, attributing their decision to increasing racism, discrimination, and nationalism. BBC Africa Eye has explored this trend, termed a “silent exodus,” to understand the reasons behind the disillusionment of individuals like Mr. Gomis with life in France. Mr. Gomis, originally from Paris, established a small travel agency specializing in packages, primarily to Africa, for those seeking to reconnect with their ancestral heritage. His agency now operates an office in Senegal. “I was born in France. I grew up in France, and we know certain realities. There’s been a lot of racism. I was six and I was called the N-word at school. Every day,” Mr. Gomis, who attended school in the southern port city of Marseille, informed the BBC World Service. He added, “I may be French, but I also come from elsewhere.” Mr. Gomis’s mother, who relocated to France as an infant, struggles to comprehend his decision to leave family and friends for Senegal. He clarified, “I’m not just leaving for this African dream,” stating his motivation is a blend of responsibility towards his parents’ homeland and perceived opportunities. He elaborated, “Africa is like the Americas at the time of… the gold rush. I think it’s the continent of the future. It’s where there’s everything left to build, everything left to develop.” The relationship between France and Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation and former French colony that served as a significant hub in the transatlantic slave trade, is extensive and intricate. A recent BBC Africa Eye investigation encountered migrants in Senegal prepared to undertake perilous sea journeys to reach Europe. Many of these individuals ultimately arrive in France, where, according to the French Office for the Protection of Refugee and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), a record number applied for asylum last year. Approximately 142,500 people submitted applications in total, with roughly a third of all protection requests being granted. The precise number of individuals undertaking the reverse journey to Africa remains unclear, as French law forbids the collection of data based on race, religion, and ethnicity. However, studies indicate that highly qualified French citizens of Muslim heritage, frequently the offspring of immigrants, are discreetly emigrating. Individuals interviewed stated that attitudes towards immigration in France were becoming more rigid, with right-wing political parties gaining increased influence. Following their appointments last month, Prime Minister Michel Barnier and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau have committed to intensifying efforts against both legal and illegal immigration, advocating for legislative amendments at both domestic and European levels. Fanta Guirassy, who has resided in France her entire life and operates her own nursing practice in Villemomble, an outer suburb of Paris, is also contemplating a relocation to Senegal, her mother’s country of birth. The 34-year-old informed the BBC, “Unfortunately, for quite a few years now in France, we’ve been feeling less and less safe. It’s a shame to say it, but that’s the reality.” She added, “Being a single mother and having a 15-year-old teenager means you always have this little knot in your stomach. You’re always afraid.” Her realization occurred when her son was recently subjected to a police stop and search while conversing with his friends on the street. She described the experience as, “As a mother it’s quite traumatic. You see what happens on TV and you see it happen to others.” In June of last year, widespread riots occurred across France after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, a French national of Algerian descent, by police. The investigation into the case is ongoing, but the riots profoundly impacted the nation and revealed a long-standing undercurrent of resentment regarding the treatment of ethnic minorities in France. The BBC Africa Eye documentary “Homecoming” explores the “silent exodus” of French Africans permanently departing France to reconnect with their heritage. It is available on iPlayer (UK only) or the BBC Africa YouTube channel (outside the UK). A recent survey conducted among black individuals in France indicated that 91% of respondents had experienced racial discrimination. Following the riots, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urged France to confront “issues of racial discrimination within its law enforcement agencies.” The French foreign ministry rejected this criticism, stating: “Any accusation of systemic racism or discrimination by the police in France is totally groundless. France and its police fight resolutely against racism and all forms of discrimination.” Nevertheless, statistics from the French interior ministry show that racist crimes increased by a third last year, with over 15,000 incidents recorded based on race, religion, or ethnicity. For Audrey Monzemba, a schoolteacher of Congolese descent, these societal shifts have “become very anxiety-provoking.” One morning, we accompanied her on her commute through a diverse, working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris. With her young daughter, she traveled by bus and train, but as she neared her workplace, she subtly removed her headscarf beneath her coat’s hood. In secular France, the wearing of a hijab has become highly contentious, and it was prohibited in all state schools 20 years ago. This is partly why Ms. Monzemba, 35, desires to leave France and relocate to Senegal, where she has connections. She stated, “I’m not saying that France isn’t for me. I’m just saying that what I want is to be able to thrive in an environment that respects my faith and my values. I want to go to work without having to remove my veil.” A recent survey involving over 1,000 French Muslims who have emigrated from France to settle overseas indicates this is an expanding trend. This trend follows a surge in Islamophobia after the 2015 attacks, during which Islamist gunmen killed 130 individuals at multiple sites across Paris. Olivier Esteves, a co-author of the report “France, You Love It But You Leave It,” informed the BBC that moral panics concerning secularism and employment discrimination “are at the heart of this silent flight.” He further stated, “Ultimately, this emigration from France constitutes a real brain-drain, as it is primarily highly educated French Muslims who decide to leave.” Fatoumata Sylla, 34, whose parents originate from Senegal, serves as an illustrative example. She recounted, “When my father left Africa to come here, he was looking for a better quality of life for his family in Africa. He would always tell us: ‘Don’t forget where you come from.'” The tourism software developer, who plans to move to Senegal next month, believes that by establishing a business in West Africa, she is demonstrating remembrance of her heritage. However, her brother Abdoul, also born in Paris, remains unconvinced. He expressed to the BBC, “I’m worried about her. I hope she’ll do OK, but I don’t feel the need to reconnect with anything.” He added, “My culture and my family is here. Africa is the continent of our ancestors. But it’s not really ours because we weren’t there.” He concluded, “I don’t think you’re going to find some ancestral culture, or an imaginary Wakanda,” referencing the technologically advanced society depicted in the Black Panther movies and comic books. In Dakar, we interviewed Salamata Konte, co-founder of the travel agency with Mr. Gomis, to learn about the experiences awaiting French Africans like her who opt to settle in Senegal. Ms. Konte exchanged a lucrative banking position in Paris for a life in the Senegalese capital. The 35-year-old recounted, “When I arrived in Senegal three years ago I was shocked to hear them call me ‘Frenchie’.” She continued, “I said to myself: ‘OK, yes, indeed, I was born in France, but I’m Senegalese like you.’ So at first, we have this feeling where we say to ourselves: ‘Damn, I was rejected in France, and now I’m coming here and I’m also rejected here.'” However, her advice is: “You have to come here with humility and that’s what I did.” Regarding her entrepreneurial experience, she described it as “really difficult.” She stated, “I often tell people that Senegalese men are misogynistic. They don’t like to hear that, but I think it’s true.” She elaborated, “They have a hard time accepting that a woman can be a CEO of a company, that a woman can sometimes give ‘orders’ to certain people, that I, as a woman, can tell a driver who was late: ‘No, it’s not normal that you’re late.'” She concluded, “I think we have to prove ourselves a little more.” Despite these challenges, Mr. Gomis is enthusiastic while awaiting his Senegalese citizenship. His travel agency is performing well, and he mentioned he is already developing his next project: a dating app for Senegal. For additional news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.