In Chad, “we are taken for supporters of Marseille”

(BRUXELLES2) Humorous account of Finnish soldiers on their Eufor mission in Chad: "When Chadians understand that we are not French and we show them the Finnish flag on our uniform, they usually take it for the flag of the Marseille football club", explains First Lieutenant Mikael Alopaeus in a Helsingin Sanomat. "But the children are already greeting us in Finnish."

"Among the 60 Finnish soldiers, some speak French, but their knowledge of Arabic is limited to two or three words" completes the commander of the Finnish troops Timo Kirvesoja. "Nevertheless, we are greeted with a smile and greeted."

And to add: "We did not encounter any insurmountable problem, even if everything did not go as we had planned"...