Mali's oldest veteran Kaba Doumbia dies aged 100
African riflemen, on their way to the French coast, during the landing of August 15, 1944 in Provence.
DR / ECPAD
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3 min
He was 100 years old.
The oldest veteran of Mali, Master Corporal Kaba Doumbia died on Monday April 26.
Integrated into the French army in 1940, he participated in the liberation of France at the end of World War II.
The French Embassy in Bamako has also expressed its sadness, looking back on the journey of a man who has crossed the ages.
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Master Corporal Kaba Doumbia was born in 1920 in Bamako, in what was still called French Sudan.
At the age of 20, he was incorporated into the French army and took part in the fighting until 1942.
After a brief return to his hometown, he returned to the 9th Colonial Infantry Division (DIC) of General Magnan and participated in one of the founding acts of the liberation of France:
the landing of Provence in August 1944
.
He will continue the route as far as Germany until the Nazi surrender on May 8, 1945.
Like many of his African comrades in arms,
formerly called the Senegalese tirailleurs
, he has long regretted France's lack of recognition for his feats of arms.
Demobilized in 1946, he did not receive his first pension until 1980, 34 years later.
In August 2014, at the age of 94, Corporal Kaba Doumbia was knighted in the Legion of Honor during the commemorative ceremonies for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, invited by the French authorities.
Last December, he was also awarded the Medal of French Souvenir, which celebrates veterans.
His funeral will take place this Tuesday afternoon in Bamako, at 4 p.m. local.
@FranceauMali learned with great sadness of the death of Mr. Kaba Doumbia, dean of veterans at #Mali.
He was awarded the @SF_Siege medal last December for his service.
Our condolences to his family and loved ones.
https://t.co/Fs1UrdpXWx
- France in Mali (@FranceauMali) April 26, 2021
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Senegalese riflemen