Senegal: Casamance continues to fester amidst rising tensions   July 22,
2007 11:12 AM
  By Scott A Morgan


Recent reports indicate that the fighting in the Southern Senegalese Region
of Casamance continues unabated and could be spreading. And there are now
reports of not only Senegalese involvement in the fighting but also a
stirring within the Armed Forces of The Gambia.

It is now clear that this crisis began 8 months ago when the Army of
Guniea-Bissau launched an offensive against a camp know as 'Baraka
Mandiaoka'. This was the main camp of the followers of the main leader
of      <http://optimizedby.rmxads.com/click,FB8rADAvAwC5pgIAOpUBAAIAAAAAAP8AAAACFQIAAgK-KwMAdpQCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB.vpEYAAAAA,,http%3A%2F%2Fwww.africanpath.com%2Fp_blogentry.cfm%3Fblogentryid%3D1654,>
the Senegalese Rebels in Casamance Salif Sadio. The base was destroyed
during the Operation and Sadio fled into the Casamance region.

It is interesting to notice that the Army of Guniea-Bissau is involved in
this facet of the crisis. Back in the late 1990s Senegal and Guniea-Bissau
fought a border war over an escalation in the attacks in Casamance. Now the
fighting has moved towards the border with The Gambia. It has been stated
that the Senegalese Military is playing a role in this fighting. But how
they will capture Mr. Sadio remains to be seen.

There is considerable interest in how The Gambia is reacting to the crisis
as it prepares for what may be a Senegalese Invasion. There have also been
reports of Senegalese Intelligence trying to Organize the Gambian Diaspora
in an effort to unseat President Jammeh. What remains to be seen is whether
or not Guniea-Bissau will sit on the sidelines and watch the situation or
decide to intervene at a time when it is deemed to be necessary to further
its own agenda.

While this situation is ongoing the silence of both regional and
international actors is unnerving. We have watched and listened as the world
rose up to address the abuses in Northern Uganda, Rwanda and Darfur. But the
silence in this situation can be seen as a damning indictment over all of
the interested parties. Where is ECOWAS? They got involved in Liberia and in
Cote D'Ivorie. The UN got involved in Liberia and the US has considerable
interests in the region, why are the main voices silent over this?

The World Food Program did an assessment of the situation a short time ago
and could not determine the actual number of refugees due to the fact that
most of them are staying with family members. That could be a factor in the
silence of the main actors in the region. But the crisis is festering unseen
to many people. But it could erupt into a major crisis if it remains
unchecked.


The author comments on US Policy towards Africa and other concerns. He can
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