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France–Suriname relations

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Diplomatic relations between France and Suriname were established on 25 August 1976.[1] Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana share a common border of 520 kilometres (320 mi).[2] Suriname operates an embassy in Paris,[3] a consulate in Cayenne, and an honorary consulate in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.[4] France operates an embassy in Paramaribo,[5] a consulate in Georgetown, Guyana,[6] and an honorary consulate in Albina.[7]

France–Suriname relations
Map indicating locations of Suriname and France

Suriname
France

History

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Suriname became an independent country on 25 November 1975. The initial relationship between Suriname and France was cautious. An embassy in Paramaribo was opened in 1976, however France wanted to negotiate the border dispute.[8] In June 1979, Suriname was offered US$100 million in aid, if a quick resolution to the dispute was reached.[9] In October 1979, the Arron government announced its willingness to relinquish the claim,[10] however the deal was strongly opposed and not ratified.[11]

On 25 February 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état.[12] This resulted in the Surinamese Interior War which started in 1986 in Marowijne District near the border with French Guiana.[13]: 226  About 10,000 refugees settled in French Guiana, and were housed in Acarouany, Charvein and other camps.[13]: 227  France remained neutral during the conflict, and started negotiations with the Suriname National Army and the Jungle Commando which cumulated in the signing of the Kourou Accords on 21 July 1989.[13]: 231  The accords, however, were sabotaged by the army,[13]: 231  and the final peace accords were ratified in August 1992.[14]

In December 1991, the borders between the countries officially reopened.[2] In 1975, Suriname and French Guiana were economically comparable, however by 2000, there was a large difference in economic power, which resulted in a continuing migration into French Guiana.[13]: 234  In 2009, immigrants from Suriname constituted 9.6% of the population of French Guiana.[15] The border town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni has grown from 5,055 in 1974 to 45,576 in 2018,[16] and the main language spoken in Saint-Laurent is Sranan Tongo.[13]: 234  In 2011, Suriname opened a large embassy in Paris to signify France's importance to Suriname,[17] however in 2017, the building was put up for sale.[3]

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in close cooperation between Suriname and France. The border is now jointly patrolled by both governments,[18] a joint police post has been established, and there is extensive cooperation.[19]

As of 2021, the territorial dispute remains unsolved.[19]

Aluku

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The Aluku people are maroons who escaped from Dutch plantations in Suriname.[20] In the late 18th century, the Dutch colonists in alliance with the Ndyuka people declared war on the tribe, and chased them into French Guiana.[21] On 25 May 1891, the Aluku chose French citizenship.[22] In 2018, the population was estimated at 9,800 people in French Guiana.[23]

Saramaka

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The Saramaka maroons were originally from Suriname. They first came to French Guiana in the 19th century as freighters to the interior. During the gold rush, their services became important for the economy. In 1883, the Governor of French Guiana and the Granman (paramount chief) of the Saramaka, signed an official accord that Samarakas could stay in French Guiana under the legal authority of the Granman. The accords have never been rescinded and allow the tribe entry to French Guiana without the risk of deportation.[24][25] In 2013, there were an estimated 25,000 Saramakas living in French Guiana.[26]

Transportation

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There is ferry service between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. The ferry provides a direct connection with the East-West Link in Suriname and RN1 in French Guiana.[27] Plans have been developed to build a bridge between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, however as of 2021, no action has been taken.[28][29]

Trade

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France and Suriname have a small presence in each other's economies.[2] In 2019, Suriname exported US$34.5 million worth of goods to France with the main export product being refined petroleum, and bananas. In 2019, France exported US$14.5 million to Suriname with the main export being liquor.[30]

Ambassadors of France to Suriname

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Embassy of France in Paramaribo

Until 1991, only chargé d'affaires were appointed.[31]

Ambassadors of Suriname to France

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Embassy of Suriname in Paris

Until 2011, only consuls were appointed.[35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lijst van Diplomatieke betrekkingen en visum afschaffing" (PDF). Surinamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "France and Suriname". French Diplomacy. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Ambassadegebouw Suriname in Parijs wordt verkocht". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 10 August 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Consulaire diensten weer vanuit Cayenne en St. Laurent". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Autovakantie in Frans-Guyana wordt makkelijker". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ "French Consulate Guyana". French Consulate GY. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  7. ^ "French in Albina Suriname". Visacent. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Ook wantrouwen over toenadering van Suriname tot Guyana". Limburgsch dagblad (in Dutch). 12 June 1976. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Frankrijk wil Suriname 100 miljoen dollar steun geven". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 9 July 1979. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Verdrag met Frankrijk getekend". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 1 October 1979. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Oppositie zal niet meewerken aan nadelig grensverdrag voor Suriname" (in Dutch). 7 November 1979. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Suriname Timeline". BBC News. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Wim Hoogbergen & Thomas Polimé (2002). "Oostelijk Suriname 1986-2002". OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Het 8 decemberproces vereenzelvigd met de rechtsstaat". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Panorama de la population immigrée en Guyane" (PDF). INSEE (in French). September 2012. p. 8. Retrieved 27 December 2021. 29.7% are immigrants of which 32.3% are from Suriname
  16. ^ "Populations communales de 1876 à 2018". Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Binnenkort Surinaamse ambassade in Frankrijk". Waterkant (in Dutch). 1 September 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  18. ^ "SURINAME EN FRANS-GUYANA GAAN SAMEN DE GRENSRIVIER CONTROLEREN TER BESTRIJDING VAN COVID-19" (in Dutch). 11 April 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Scheidende ambassadeur Joly: 'Één gezamenlijke uitdaging'". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  20. ^ "The Aluku and the Communes in French Guiana". Cultural Survival. September 1989. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 154 - Boschnegers" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Parcours La Source". Parc-Amazonien-Guyane (in French). Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  23. ^ Price, Richard (2018). "Maroons in Guyane". New West Indian Guide. New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids Volume 92: Issue 3-4. 92 (3–4). Brill Publishers: Table 1. doi:10.1163/22134360-09203001.
  24. ^ Price, Richard (2002). Saramaka Maroons on the Brazilian Frontier (PDF). Unshackled Spaces: Fugitives from Slavery and Maroon Communities in the Americas. Williamsburg, Virginia: College of William & Mary. pp. 1–2.
  25. ^ Yerri Urban (2016). "Les conventions entre la France et les peuples Marrons du Surinam. Contribution à l'étude des middle-grounds post-esclavagistes". Histoire de la Justice. 26 (26): 201–221. doi:10.3917/rhj.026.0201.
  26. ^ Richard Price (2013). "The Maroon Population Explosion: Suriname and Guyane". New West Indian Guide. New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids Volume 87: Issue 3-4. 87 (3–4): 323–327. doi:10.1163/22134360-12340110. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Remplacement du bac fluvial St Laurent du Maroni / Albina". Ministère de la Transition écologique (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  28. ^ IIRSA.org - Improvement of the Marowijne River International Crossing Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine - project summary
  29. ^ Indianfeelings.nl - Fusie Suriname en Franks Guyana?
  30. ^ "Suriname/France". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g "List of French ambassadeurs (csv)". French Gouvernment (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Décret du 5 septembre 2013". Journal officiel de la République française (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Décret du 16 janvier 2017". Journal officiel de la République française (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Décret du 8 septembre 2021". Journal officiel de la République française (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Chirac vreest slechtere betrekkingen met Suriname". De Waarheid (in Dutch). 21 April 1987. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  36. ^ "Harvey Naarendorp". Jessica Dikmoet (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  37. ^ "Reggy Nelson nieuwe ambassadeur in Frankrijk". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Ambassadeur Ori overhandigt geloofsbrieven aan president Macron". Dagblad De West (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 July 2022.
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