from daily observor 13th june fighting in casmance's area. Separatist rebels in the Senegalese southern province of Casamance have been engaged in renewed fighting along the border villages near the Gambia, the Gambia Journal has learnt.
Fighting flared up between what observers say are two rival factions in the fishing and tourist resort village of Kafountine. The rebels have been divided into warring sections since the ouster of veteran rebel leader Reverend Father Diamacoune three years ago.
A hard-line group led by Salifou Sadio, which is thought to be among the biggest faction, was driven away from the Guinea Bissau border two months ago. Some believe that it is elements from that group that are now trying to dislodge another faction and occupy the northern front, bordering The Gambia. Senegalese authorities strongly suspect the Jammeh regime of supporting the rebels.
Diamacoune Senghore is a catholic priest who is from a small village in the western part of the Casamance. at the begining of the 80s some students in Casamnce demonstrated asking for Independenc of the region due to alienation and they were shot to control the crowd. he then led the movement asking for full independence. its called the MFDC in french.
lately he has being a moderate making peace deal with the government but this has split the group.
please know that Casamance means the entire senegal below The Gambia and includes some parts of eastern senegal but is now used to mean just a small part on the west. due to the figthing there the government has split it into three now largely based on ethnic lines i think
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Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 13:06:28
