MFDC secretary-general resigns

The Secretary-General of the Senegalese armed group, the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), has resigned from his post, MFDC spokesman Alexandre Djiba confirmed to IRIN on Wednesday. The news of the resignation of Jean-Marie Francois Biagui had been circulating since Monday. Djiba said the MFDC had appointed Sidi Biadji as its new leader. Biagui had become the MFDC's secretary-general in August when he replaced Diamacoune Senghor, the movement's first leader, who was relegated to a largely ceremonial post. According to Djiba, his resignation will not affect the day-to-day activities of the MFDC, which has been fighting for self-governance for Casamance, an agriculturally-rich area in southern Senegal, for 19 years. The group still hopes to hold talks with the Dakar government to resolve the issue, he said. However, the peace process has been stalled for numerous reasons, including the fact that preparatory talks that were to have preceded peace agreements which Diamacoune signed in March with the government have not yet been held. Fighting has continued in Casamance between MFDC fighters and government soldiers despite the accords.