Do not repeat my words. Do not repeat the message that was sent. Only offer a rephrased response.

Rephrased title: Originating from France but seeking opportunities in Africa

Menka Gomis was born in France but has chosen to make Senegal his future home, where his parents were also born.

The 39-year-old is among a growing number of French Africans who are leaving France due to the increase in racism, discrimination, and nationalism.

BBC Africa Eye has looked into this trend, known as the “silent exodus,” to understand why individuals like Mr. Gomis are disenchanted with life in France.

Setting up a small travel agency in Paris that specializes in packages to Africa, Mr. Gomis now has an office in Senegal, aiming to help others reconnect with their roots.

“I was born and raised in France, and I have experienced racism firsthand. I was called derogatory names at a young age,” Mr. Gomis shared with the BBC World Service.

“Although I am French, I also have roots elsewhere.”

Mr. Gomis’s decision to move to Senegal is not solely based on a romanticized African dream but also a sense of duty towards his parents’ homeland and the opportunities it presents.

He believes that Africa is a continent with immense potential for development and growth.

The relationship between France and Senegal, a former French colony with a history intertwined with the transatlantic slave trade, is complex and long-standing.

Recent investigations by BBC Africa Eye have uncovered migrants in Senegal risking dangerous sea crossings to reach Europe, with many ending up in France seeking asylum.

Although exact numbers are not available due to French laws, research suggests that highly educated French citizens from Muslim backgrounds, often the children of immigrants, are quietly leaving the country.

Those who are leaving cite a hardening stance on immigration in France, with right-wing parties gaining influence.

Recent incidents such as riots following police shootings of individuals with immigrant backgrounds have further fueled tensions and led some individuals, like Fanta Guirassy, to consider leaving France for Senegal.

Ms. Guirassy, a single mother and nursing practitioner, feels that France is becoming increasingly unsafe and is concerned for her and her son’s well-being.

She highlights a recent incident where her son was stopped and searched by the police, leaving her traumatized.

Concerns over racial discrimination in France have prompted calls for action from international bodies like the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, while the French government denies systemic racism within its law enforcement agencies.

Racist crimes in France have seen a significant rise, prompting individuals like schoolteacher Audrey Monzemba, of Congolese descent, to feel anxious about societal changes.

Ms. Monzemba, who wears a headscarf, faces challenges in secular France and hopes to thrive in an environment that respects her faith and values, possibly considering a move to Senegal.

“I wish to be able to go to work without having to take off my veil,” the 35-year-old expresses.

A recent survey of over 1,000 French Muslims who have relocated abroad suggests that this is a growing phenomenon.

This trend follows a surge in Islamophobia following the 2015 attacks, where Islamist gunmen killed 130 individuals in various spots across Paris.

The underlying causes of this silent departure include concerns about secularism and job discrimination, as stated by Olivier Esteves, one of the authors of the report titled France, You Love It But You Leave It, in an interview with the BBC.