Senegal: part of the population flees the military operation in Casamance
A Senegalese soldier in the forest of Blaze in southern Casamance (Illustrative image).
© JOHN WESSELS/AFP
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2 mins
The Gambia is facing the arrival of refugees following the military operation launched on Sunday by the Senegalese army in northern Casamance, on the border between the two countries.
This operation against the MFDC rebellion comes after a clash that occurred on January 24 between a Senegalese detachment from the ECOWAS mission in Gambia and MFDC fighters.
A new surge of tension, while the conflict has lasted for forty years.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
“
It was to be expected,
” said a source familiar with the matter, after the clash which had cost the lives of four Senegalese soldiers.
Seven others had been captured by the MFDC, before being released on February 14 in front of journalists.
These events were experienced by the army as "
a humiliation
" continues our interlocutor, for whom
this military operation
is a way of "
washing off the affront
".
In its press release, the general staff clearly states its main objective: "
to dismantle the bases of the MFDC faction of Salif Sadio located along the northern border
".
Salif Sadio had however said he was ready for negotiations with Dakar from 2012. But the peace process is blocked and the military option has been favored: already at the beginning of 2021, the army had carried out operations to comb the MFDC bases, this once in southern Casamance, on the border with Guinea-Bissau.
Banjul prepares to welcome refugees
Consequence of this new operation: people fled the area and crossed the border to southern Gambia.
No reliable report on their number at this stage.
Banjul authorities have announced an envelope of 5 million dalasis – around 85,000 euros – to help refugees and displaced persons.
The Sant'Egidio Christian community, long involved in mediations in Casamance, expresses "
its deep concern at the armed confrontation
".
She calls for "
the cessation of fighting to resume the negotiation process
".
►Also read: Guest Africa - Senegal: "The Casamance rebellion engages in criminal actions to survive"
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Gambia
Senegal
Refugees
Casamance