User:Victoria0998/Casamance conflict

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Background (edit language, add more information)

The Casamance region is the southern region of Senegal which, although connected in the East to Senegal, is separated from the rest of Senegal by the Gambia. The principal inhabitants of the region are members of the Jola (Djiola, Diola)ethnic group and many are Christians or animists, unlike the majority of Senegalese who are Muslims. The sentiment has existed amongst Jola that they do not benefit sufficiently from the region's richness and that Dakar, the capital, reaps most of the profit from the region's products.

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Demographic and cultural differences

ethnicity breakdown (wolof serer jola etc in Casamance & effect on conflict --> lack of representation and domination by north)

History

French rule

resources

In 1949, Emile Badiane created the MFDC for the political representation of the Casamance in the public sphere.

In 1950, the MDFC formalized its alliance with the BDS (look up party name). In the 1951 and 1952 elections, the BDS won over the SFIO in Casamance, resulting in increased pressure to merge the MDFC with the BDS. In June 1955, those within the MDFC supporting that it remain autonomous formed a Mouvement Autonome de Casamance (MAC). Assane Seck was chosen as its leader. History?vs timelineFormation of MFDC

Akila - militant wing

Map of the Casamance region (dark red) as part of wider Senegal

Timeline

1970s

In the late 1970s, a separatist movement first developed in Casamance. Political frustrations mounted from the lack of economic growth for Casamançais people. Zinginchor and coastal areas underwent developmental expropriations, and many local officials from the northern regions gave relatives and clients access to land. This resulted in protests in Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring.

Those majority of those who supported separation from Senegal in Casamance were members of the Jola ethnic group. Transition sentence about social and economic grievances. The government cut funding for boarding schools when. This funding was used for the education of Jola youth who lacked connections in North Senegal. In addition, Jola members who were educated were unable to get civil service jobs from the state.

In Dakar and France, separation from Senegal was debated in Jola migrant networks. In 1979, Jola in France created the association Esukolal.

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1980s

In the 1980s, resentment about the marginalization and exploitation of Casamance by the Senegalese central government gave rise to an independence movement in form of the MFDC, which was officially founded in 1982.

In June 1892, Esukolal created a section in Dakar. (Find more about Esukolal?) Meetings were held in Ziguinchor, with the local football team, Casa Sport, used as a cover. Attendees planned demonstrations in Ziguinchor.

On December 26, 1982, several hundred protesters gathered in Ziguinchor despite the arrest of most of the demonstration's leaders. This peaceful demonstration was attended by men and women of all classes as well as of Jola and other ethnic groups in the region. During the event, the protestors marched to the regional governor's office and replaced the Senegalese flag with a white flag. In response, the Senegalese government targeted Jola people.

The MFDC began to organise demonstrations, and tensions eventually escalated in massive riots in December 1983. On December 6, three gendarmes were killed while intervening at a MFDC meeting near Ziguinchor. On December 18, 1983, militants with weapons marched in Ziguinchor. This demonstration turned violent, with many casualties. Following this attack, the Senegalese government drove the MFDC underground into the forests. This caused the MDFC to form a more radicalized, armed wing that engaged in guerrilla combat against the Senegalese army and symbols of statehood. The Senegalese government answered by dividing the Casamance province into two smaller regions, likely in order to split and weaken the independence movement. This only heightened tensions, and the government began to jail MFDC leaders such as Augustin Diamacoune Senghor.(?)

Another factor in the growing independence movement was the failure of the Senegambia Confederation in 1989, which had economically benefited Casamance and whose end only worsened the situation of Casamance's population.

By the end of the 1980s, the military wing of the MDFC had an estimate of 300-600 trained soldiers.

1990s

In 1992, the movement divided into a Northern Front having brokered an agreement with the government and a radical Southern Front rejecting compromise.

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While Senegal was under French rule during the colonial period, Portuguese administration was established in Ziguinchor in 1645 and remained until 1888. The Casamance region was ceded to French by Portugal on May 12, 1886.

The administration in Ziguinchor was dominated by Northerners largely of the Wolof ethnic group.

The MDFC has accused the Senegalese government of failing to invest in the economic development of Casamance.