War and Conflict Journal

President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal Threatens Gambia

Following the Casamance rebel attack of December 21, 2011, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade ordered his troops to pursue the rebels, even if that meant entering into neighboring Gambia. President Wade, among others, believes Gambia is a long-time supporter of the MFDC rebels.  Prior rebel attacks over the years have resulted in armed incursions by Senegalese forces into The Gambia.

Senegal Map with Casamance in Red

The Casamance region of Senegal is marked in red on this Senegal Map

The Casamance War in Senegal

The ongoing war in the Casamance region of Senegal pits the Jolo people of the Casamance region against the government of Senegal. The rebels, who call themselves the Mouvement des forces démocratiques de la Casamance (MFDC), seek independence for the region. The Jolo are primarily Christian, while the rest of Senegal is primarily Muslim.  Despite a cease-fire arranged in 2004, violence has continued on and off ever since.  In 2010, an arms shipment from Iran, bound for the Casamance rebels, was intercepted in Nigeria.  In December, 2011, rebels attacked the Senegalese Army, resulting in 12 deaths.
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