Refugees begin returning home

Senegalese refugees who fled clashes between government forces and armed fighters in Casamance, and entered The Gambia have begun returning to their home villages following a lull in the 12-day fighting.

The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Friday that The Gambia had received an influx of some 2,000 Senegalese refugees fleeing the fighting. The new arrivals, the refugee agency added, came from Casamance after fleeing the area of Diouloulou, where the Government sent police forces as part of a mop-up operation ahead of municipal elections on 12 May.

Immigration officials in The Gambia reported that at least 9,000 Senegalese fleeing the fighting entered the country last week. Over 500 arrived in the village of Berending in two days, an official said.

Gambian security officials said on Tuesday they want the refugees moved to camps in the village of Bambali, some 200km from the Senegalese border. But the refugees said they prefer to return home rather than relocation hundreds of kilometres further into Gambian territory, an official added.

"The presence of the Casamance refugees poses security problems for all villages along the border with Casamance," a security official told IRIN from the Gambian village of Dimbaya, which was mistakenly attacked ten days ago by Senegalese army troops pursuing rebels.

The rebels of the Casamance Democratic Forces Movement (French acronym MFDC), have waged a separatist struggle since the early 1980s. The latest escalation in fighting came as Senegal prepared for municipal elections.

Fleeing refugees spoke of heavy aerial bombardment by Senegalese forces of rebel positions, especially around the village of Diouloulou, where rebels attacked a delegation of ruling party politicians last week, prompting the current army counter-offensive.