Senegal
Peace broken in Senegal's Casamance province

afrol News, 8 January - A six month truce in the southern Senegalese province of Casamance has been broken by a government army offensive, so far killing over thirty combatants. This biggest offensive in years has left civilians in the province capital Ziguinchor and tourists at the famous resort Cap Skiring fear for their safety. Government troops have been widely condemned.

The offensive by the Senegalese army has so far killed around thirty rebels and four government soldiers, according to the latest reports. Fighting is reported to be especially heavy around Nyassia, some 25 kilometres south-west of Ziguinchor and situated on the road to the seaside resort Cap Skiring.

According to the Senegalese army, the offensive was triggered by the death of one government soldier who had stepped on a landmine. Landmines are reported to have been deposited by both the government army and the Casamance separatist rebels, the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). 

The government offensive had been launched on Monday "in response to secessionist rebels' recent campaigns of placing mines in the area", Colonel Mokhtar Gueye said in a statement. "With the rebels' intent on causing damage, the military command had to take steps to guarantee the security of soldiers and to protect civilians," the colonel added. Several MFDC bases were attacked at surprise and fighting is still going on. 

It remains unclear whether the army had achieved approval from the government in Dakar for the sudden offensive. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade lately has put great effort and personal prestige in finding a peaceful solution to the Casamance conflict, which has lasted for over 20 years. A truce, which has lasted for half a year, has been seen as a fertile step-stone to lasting peace, which is in the process of being negotiated.

The peace mediator for the Casamance, Malamine Kourouma, yesterday also firmly disapproved of the new military operations in the province. "In this particular circumstances, which had permitted so much hope, any act of reopening of the hostilities, whatever the motives, cannot be met by anything else than the largest and firmest of disapproval by society," Mr Kourouma said in a forceful statement to the press in Ziguinchor, the Casamance capital. 

Mr Kourouma went far in making the local government forces the sole responsible for the obvious setback in the peace process. He indicated there was "an obstruction by the army" regarding the peace process, although he also forcefully condemned the placing of landmines along the frontline. 

The peace mediator is supported in his disapproval by the local population, according to media reports. A BBC correspondent reports that Ziguinchor civilians at large blame the resurgence of fighting on the army. Ziguinchor civilians, who could hear the fighting, fear that it will further approach the city. Villagers from the city's outskirts are already reported to have headed for Ziguinchor, leaving their fields to the ravages of fighting. 

Also the luxury coastal tourist resort at Cap Skiring has been indirectly hit by the fighting. Tourists were uncomfortably close to the unrest and there are reports of cancellations and individuals wanting to leave. 

The Casamance is the Senegalese province richest on natural resources. In additional to its vast tourism potential, the region is also the most fertile in Senegal and could easily feed much of northern Senegal. The province's development has however been hampered by lack of investments from Dakar and destructions and divestment due to the fighting. The MFDC fights the centralistic governance in Senegal and the dominance of Muslim northerners. 

During the last years, the MFDC movement has become divided and weakened by competing factions. Most factions however agree to the peace process initiated two years ago, where some degree of autonomy seems the probable solution to the conflict. The peace process has been slow and stalled at various occasions, despite President Wade's promises to give it first priority.

Sources: Based on Senegalese govt, press reports, UN sources and afrol archives

 

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