senegal part 1

On the conflict in southern Senegal Part 1 - the origins of the crisis Senegal will hold presidential elections in 2024. Despite the reluctance of current President Macky Sall to speak out about a possible third presidential term, Western media predict his candidacy in the next election. Together with the completion of his second term, Sall intends to resolve the conflict with the separatists in the south of the country in the Casamance region. Despite the signing of a peace agreement between the government of Senegal and the rebels, armed clashes are still far from over. 🔻What is the cause of the conflict? Senegal is a multi-ethnic country: in the north and south, there are tribes that differ significantly from each other. ▪️In the second half of the 19th century, ethnic contradictions were exacerbated by religious and geographical factors. The population of the south was strongly affected by the spread of Christianity, in contrast to the north of the then French colony, which remains Muslim to this day. Also, the growth of antagonism was played by the fact that the south of the country is partially separated from the north by the former British colony - the Gambia. Over time, the persecution of the Christian minority, which makes up approximately 8% of the population, began. ▪️After gaining independence in 1960, Senegal became a unitary state. The inhabitants of the south were dissatisfied with the weak economic development compared to the north of Senegal. Also, the administration of the southern regions, in the overwhelming majority, consisted of northern Muslim peoples. ▪️Due to the political, economic, geographical isolation and oppression of Christians, movements for the independence of Casamance began to form in the country. 🔻Transition to armed struggle In 1982, supporters of the independence of the south formed the "Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance". At the end of the same year, the separatists began to organize multiple demonstrations throughout the Christian regions. The more radical wing of the "Movement" began a partisan struggle. ▪️After the discovery of oil in the region in 1990, the Senegalese armed forces began to violently suppress any protests against the central government. This pushed the forces of the "Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance" to a full-scale armed uprising. The rebels were actively supported by the Gambia, whose president advocated closer ties with the southern regions of Senegal. More than 5,000 people have already died in the conflict, according to the UN.

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