http://www.africanews.com/site/Senegal_Heavy_fighting_in_Casamance/list_messages/26634

Senegal: Heavy fighting in Casamance

      Posted on Thursday 27 August 2009 - 09:00

      Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
      Heavy fighting between the regular army of Senegal and alleged
separatist troops yesterday perturbed the relative peace the Casamance
region in Senegal has been enjoying since a ceasefire deal in 2002.
Local residents fled the streets, shutting shops and hiding out in
plantations.

      According to Senegal’s RTS media, automatic weapon and
rocket-propelled grenade fire was heard in Casamance main city,
Ziguinchor before nightfall on August 25.

      The clashes between Senegalese soldiers and fighters suspected
to be with the Movement for the Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC)
– Casamance rebel group, came four days after similar fighting took
place some 10km south of Ziguinchor.

      Residents and local authorities told RTS that the earlier
fighting forced scores of people to flee their homes. Aid workers said
it was not yet clear how many people had been displaced.

      “We have not seen fighting like this here since 2002," a
resident said on television.

      “The fighters were in groups of five.” Another resident said.
“They came and blocked all the exits from the neighbourhood, stealing
bicycles, mobile phones and identity papers from residents and from
people returning late from their farms.”

      “They told us not to go to our plantations because they will
suspect us of being army informants”, he added.

      Buildings of the University of Ziguinchor were hit by bullets
and an explosive from a rocket-propelled grenade, according to
university personnel and students.

      Casamance is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including
the Casamance River. It is the site of one of Africa’s longest-running
conflicts, sparked when MFDC separatists launched a rebellion in 1982.

      The region, with agriculture as main source of local income, has
known sporadic violence as a definitive settlement is yet to be
achieved.

      Rebels turned bandits constantly attack innocent civilians.
Landmines have killed and injured hundreds of people since 1990.

      Observers say the latest events underscore the need for a sound
peace agreement that would bring permanent stability to the region.

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