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Fighting reported on border with Guinea-Bissau

    ABIDJAN

    Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces shelled positions held by a faction of Senegal’s Mouvement des forces democratiques de Casamance (MFDC) along the border between the two countries on Monday and Tuesday, sources in Ziguinchor, the main town in southern Senegal, told IRIN.

    The sources said the Guinea-Bissau military bombarded the positions of MFDC commander Salif Sadio from the town of Sao Domingos, less than 10km south of the border. The Guineans were supported by a rival faction of the MFDC loyal to Leopold Sagna, the sources said. Sagna has reportedly been detained for months by Sadio.

    ‘Sud Quotidien’ newspaper in Senegal reported that Sagna’s men attacked Sadio’s positions on Sunday night and early on Monday, but were pushed back towards the Sao Domingos area. The Guinea-Bissau military then intervened, causing Sadio’s men to retreat.

    The MFDC has been fighting since 1982 for self-rule for Casamance, which is in southern Senegal. Its leader, Augustin Diamacoune Senghor, signed two peace agreements with the Senegalese government in March but most of the movement’s combatants, including Sadio, are not party to them. Since the accords, there has been fighting in various parts of Casamance between the MFDC and the Senegalese military. The fighting forced many people to seek refuge in The Gambia, which is north of Casamance. A few have since returned.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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