Bissau – In a historic move, the Senegalese government and the pro-independence Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) have signed a peace agreement aimed at ending a conflict that has persisted for over 40 years. The accord was formalized during peace talks in Bissau, mediated by Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and a representative of the MFDC’s southern front signed the agreement, which focuses on ceasing hostilities, demobilizing fighters, and facilitating their reintegration into society.
The Casamance conflict, which began in 1982, has been one of Africa’s longest-running insurgencies, resulting in thousands of deaths and significant economic disruption in the southern region of Senegal. Despite various attempts at peace over the decades, including a notable agreement in 2004, lasting resolution remained elusive.
This recent accord reaffirms commitments made in a previous agreement signed on August 4, 2022, also in Bissau, where both parties expressed a willingness to achieve a cessation of hostilities to establish lasting peace in Casamance.
The peace deal is expected to bring stability to Casamance, enabling the resettlement of displaced individuals and fostering economic development in a region that has been divided for decades.
While violence in Casamance has declined in recent years, this agreement marks a significant step toward achieving lasting peace and reconciliation. The international community and local stakeholders are hopeful that this accord will pave the way for sustained stability and prosperity in the region.
