Conflict in Casamance

The conflict in Casamance constitutes one of the outstanding episodes of the history of the independent Senegal, concerning also the country bordering, the Guinea-Bissau.

From the beginning of the Years 1980 and until in 2005, after the Cease-fire, it opposed the rebellious forces independence Mouvement of the democratic forces of Casamance (MFDC), directed by the Abbé Diamacoune Senghor and the governmental forces, causing the death of several hundreds of people during the confrontations, without speaking about the many victims of anti-personnel mines a posteriori .

The Casamance, before one of the most prosperous areas of the country, was deeply traumatisée of it. She works today with her rebuilding and the restoration of her image, in particular as a tourist destination.

Origins of the conflict

As of the independence of Senegal, Casamançais - or at least a fraction of them - had dreamed of their own autonomy and former President Léopold Sédar Senghor had left them hoped for such a possibility at the end of a few years.

Indeed, the inhabitants of this area, often of origin diola and generally animists, are characterized by a strong identity and a great determination. Already they had rejected the Esclavage, as well European as African, and had rebelled against the attempts at seizure of the French colonial administration.

Moreover, the Gambian enclave in the national territory made them feel with all the more acuity their position marginal. Isolated, they also felt neglected and little considered by the central capacity.

Lastly, more sprinkled, more luxuriant than the zones subjected to the climate sahélien, Casamance was given from fertile grounds, own resources - in particular the Riziculture -, sometimes so much so that one indicated it like the " grenier" from Senegal. Moreover tourism developed to with it already successfully.

However promised independence was long in being concretized and in addition grounds would have been allotted to colonists Musulmans come from North, in particular to cultivate Arachide, little commune under this latitude, and to control the tourist trade and infrastructures there.

Resistance was organized then. The first serious incident in 1982 put fire at the powders and started a conflict which was going to test the area during a score of years.

Chronology of the events

  • on December 26th 1982, of the separatist demonstrators, provided with Matchet, invade Ziguinchor. The police force proceeds to several tens of arrests, of which that of the charismatic leader, the abbot Diamacoune Senghor.
  • In July and in August 1990, of the serious confrontations take place between the army and the separatists.
  • on May 31st 1991, an agreement of cease-fire is reached between the Senegalese government and the separatists of the Mouvement of the democratic forces of Casamance.
  • In 1995, of new disorders burst.
  • on April 6th, 1995, four French tourists disappear in Casamance and each part rejects the responsibility on the other.
  • In October 1995, the army launches an offensive into Low-Casamance.
  • on January 8th 1996 open the first peace talks between the freedom fighters and of the representatives of the National Commission for peace.
  • on December 26th 1999, during the peace negotiations of Banjul, another agreement of cease-fire is signed between the Senegalese government and the MFDC.
  • on November 30th 2000, a first meeting between the government and the MFDC is programmed for on December 16th with Ziguinchor.
  • on March 24th 2001, the government and the rebels meet “to finalize” the peace agreement signed on March 16th.
  • on December 30th 2004, a new cease-fire is signed between the Minister of Interior Department Ousmane Ngom and Diamacoune Senghor and a relatively calm period is established, disturbed by some sporadic attacks.
  • the health issues of the leader encourage fights to be able and bloody confrontations burst in April 2006 again.
  • Sidhi Badji, general secretary of the MFDC, dies in 2003. The negotiations for peace continue.
  • the abbot Diamacoune Senghor dies in Paris on January 17th 2007.
  • In May 2007, of the competitions always opposes several factions of the MFDC which kept the maquis, some being taken refuge in Gambia.

See too

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