Hopes fading and time ticking in Senegal’s southern region

RNW - Karamo Souane is a middle-aged mechanic from the southern Senegalese region of Casamance. He has always lived in Casamance where he is the breadwinner of his large family. Last week, he filled his bag with as much belongings as he could and embarked on an approximately 10-hour journey to Thies, in the outskirts of the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

By Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Senegal

Souane decided to flee, leaving his old parents and family behind following weeks of sporadic gun battle between Senegalese troops and rebels from the secessionist Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC).

“Since in the 1980s, me and my entire family have always stayed put even when things were hot. But personally, I don’t feel safe anymore. We could not sleep for days, weeks because of gun sounds and we don’t know how long we are going to survive this madness. We are tired of being afraid and that’s why I decided to flee.’

Guerilla warfare

Souane is one of the thousands of people who are reported to have fled the troubled Casamance region over the past two weeks. They complained of being attacked by both the state troops and the rebels.

The MFDC has been waging guerilla warfare against the Senegalese government over autonomy of Casamance since 1982, becoming one of Africa’s oldest armed struggles. Over the past ten years, the intensity of the Casamance war dwindled, resulting to increasing optimism that the rebels have lost ground.

But the conflict flared up when the state troops were ambushed by the rebels three weeks ago, killing two soldiers and injuring at least a dozen. The troops reacted with the fiercest attack on suspected rebel bases in a decade. Over the past weeks, they have been attacking suspected MFDC positions with shells and bombs.

Possible humanitarian crisis

A local humanitarian agent told RNW that ‘what’s happening in Casamance right now is not a humanitarian crisis but there is a possibility that we will have humanitarian crisis in our hands if the problem is not addressed quickly’.

The agent confirmed that most of those evacuating are women and children and there is not much in place to cater for their daily basic needs.

The MFDC officials earlier this week sent out a statement calling for negations over Casamance independence to be opened. Senegalese Foreign Minister, Madicke Niang retorts that ‘when they want to talk about an autonomous Casamance, an independent Casamance, I replied to them, looking straight into their eyes, that Casamance is part of Senegal, and until the sun is extinguished, Casamance will be part of Senegal.”

It is feared that Niang’s reaction will further wound the MFDC rebels who seem determined to fight for the autonomy of Casamance all the way.

Many natives of Casamance are backing the MFDC because they have always felt that the region is neglected by the government despite the fact that it produces most of the local food consumed in mainland Senegal.