Senegal: the explosion of an anti-tank mine in Casamance kills six and injures seven

Hundreds of mines have been discovered in Casamance.

Metal, plastic… their constitution and their origin varies but does not allow to determine which of the MFDC or the army posed it.

RFI / William De Lesseux

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The tragedy occurred Friday, October 22 as the victims returned from prayer in a horse-drawn carriage.

On the spot, there is talk of a mine dug up by the rains in this very frequented area where there are still many dangers due to these mines.

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With our correspondent in Dakar, 

The dead are all pupils and students living in the village of Kandiadiou, near the Gambian border.

The other seven wounded were evacuated in the evening to Ziguinchor and Bignona hospitals by elements of the army on patrol not far from the area.

“

, ”confirms a source on the spot.

This is not the first time that incidents of this kind have occurred in Casamance.

The army recorded there last June at least three dead and ten wounded in the explosion of an anti-tank mine.

Mine clearance operations coordinated by the Senegal National Center for Mine Action (Cnams) 

in Casamance after three decades of armed conflict in this region separated from the rest of Senegal by The Gambia.

But these operations are suspended in the department of Bignona because of the still present threat of elements of the

.

In total, nearly 1.9 million square kilometers must be cleared, according to the CNAMs in order to allow a rapid return of the displaced populations.

The army has taken over almost all the bases that were in the hands of the separatist rebels of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance.

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• Senegal