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 Suriname |  France |
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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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Until 1991, only chargé d'affaires were appointed. [31]
Until 2011, only consuls were appointed. [35]
The Aluku are a Bushinengue ethnic group living mainly on the riverbank in Maripasoula in southwest French Guiana. The group are sometimes called Boni, referring to the 18th-century leader, Bokilifu Boni.
The Kwinti are a Maroon people, descendants of runaway African slaves, living in the forested interior of Suriname on the bank of the Coppename River, and the eponymous term for their language, which has fewer than 300 speakers. Their language is an English-based creole with Dutch, Portuguese and other influences. It is similar to the languages spoken by the Aluku and Paramaccan Maroons, and split from Sranan Tongo in the middle 18th century. The Kwinti had a population of about 300 in 2014 and adhere to the Moravian Church.
Albina is a town in eastern Suriname, and is capital of the Marowijne District. The town lies on the west bank of the Marowijne river, which forms the border with French Guiana, directly opposite the French Guianan town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, to which it is connected by a frequent ferry service. Albina can be reached by bus via the East-West Link. The distance between Paramaribo and Albina is about 150 kilometres (95 mi).
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is one of the three sub-prefectures of French Guiana and the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. It is the second most populous city of French Guiana, with 49,173 inhabitants at the January 2020 census.
Apatou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Apatou is home to Maroons of the Aluku, Paramacca, Ndyuka, and Saramaka tribes.
Saint-Jean-du-Maroni is a village in French Guiana, in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni on the river Maroni. The village is mainly inhabited by Ndyuka Maroons.
Papaichton is a commune in the overseas region and department of French Guiana. The village lies on the shores of the Lawa River. Papaichton is served by the Maripasoula Airport.
Articles related to the French overseas department of Guiana(Région Guyane) include:
French Guiana is an overseas department of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas. Bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south, French Guiana covers a land area of 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi), and is inhabited by 301,099 people.
The (northern) East-West Link is a road in Suriname between Albina in the eastern part of the country to Nieuw Nickerie in the western part, via the capital city of Paramaribo. The southern East-West Link connects Paramaribo with Apoera via Bitagron. Construction of the road link started in the 1960s.
Brazil – Suriname relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Suriname. Diplomatic relations were established on 3 March 1976. Brazil has an embassy in Paramaribo since the independence of Suriname on 25 November 1975. Suriname has an embassy in Brasília since 1976, and a consulate in Belém since 2012.
Surinamese Maroons are the descendants of enslaved Africans that escaped from the plantations and settled in the inland of Suriname and French Guiana. The Surinamese Maroon culture is one of the best-preserved pieces of cultural heritage outside of Africa. Colonial warfare, land grabs, natural disasters and migration have marked Maroon history. In Suriname six Maroon groups — or tribes — can be distinguished from each other.
Granman is the title of the paramount chief of a Maroon nation in Suriname and French Guiana. The Ndyuka, Saramaka, Matawai, Aluku, Paramaka and Kwinti nations all have a granman. The paramount chiefs of Amerindian peoples in Suriname are nowadays also often called granman.
Antoine Joly is a French politician who served as ambassador to Suriname, CARICOM and Guyana from 2017 until 2021.
Apatou was a guide, and Captain of the Aluku Maroons in French Guiana. Apatou founded the village of Moutendé which has been renamed Apatou. He mediated between France and Suriname with regards to the border, and allied the Aluku with France.
Boniville is a village of Aluku Maroons in the commune of Papaïchton located on the Lawa River in French Guiana.
La Charbonnière is a neighbourhood of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana. The neighbourhood is mainly populated by Maroons. La Charbonnière was created in 1989 to house Surinamese refugees, and to resettle the inhabitants of the shanty towns. It is located between the ferry to Albina and the village of Balaté.
Route nationale 1 (RN1) is a highway in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. The highway connects Cayenne with Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and measures 258 kilometres (160 mi). The highway is the busiest road of French Guiana.
Saramaka is a neighbourhood of Kourou, French Guiana. The neighbourhood is mainly populated by Saramaka maroons from Suriname who settled in the area during the construction of the Guiana Space Centre.
The Malani is a river in the disputed area between French Guiana and Suriname. According to Suriname, it is the border river, however France considers the Litani the border. The river has its source at Pic Coudreau in the Tumuk Humak Mountains. It has its mouth at the confluence with the Litany at Antecume Pata and continues its journey as the Lawa River. The Malani has a length of 245 kilometres (152 mi).
29.7% are immigrants of which 32.3% are from Suriname
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