France and Senegal reach immigration deal

French foreign minister Nicolas Sarkozy has signed a wide ranging deal with his Senegalese counterpart Ousmane N’Gom designed to limit illegal immigration. Under the deal France will loosen up travel restrictions for Senegalese businessmen and academics while reinforcing controls on illegal traffic.

Sarkozy said criminals and smugglers who exploit human misery would be up against French and Senegalese forces working together to stop them. France is set to provide financial aid to help Senegal patrol its coastline. Procedures for repatriating illegal immigrants back to Senegal from France will be simplified. But at the same time young Senegalese students will find it easier to come to France to study, Sarkozy claimed – and schemes would be set up to help them find jobs back in Africa once their studies were finished.

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