Senegal inks peace deal with rebel group, ending four decades of conflict

Senegal has officially ended one of Africa’s oldest conflicts with the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC).

The agreement, brokered by Guinea-Bissau’s president Umaro Sissoco Embalo, brings a historic conclusion to the 40-year-long low-key struggle for independence by Casamance rebels in the southern region of Senegal. The conflict, which began in 1982, has claimed thousands of lives and severely impacted the economy of the Casamance region, which is culturally distinct and geographically separated from the rest of Senegal by The Gambia. The MFDC, a separatist group formed in the early 1980s, has long sought independence for Casamance, citing historical marginalization by the central government in Dakar. In 2023, more than 250 MFDC fighters surrendered their weapons in Mongone, a former separatist stronghold.

Senegalese prime minister Ousmane Sonko, who participated in the peace talks in Guinea-Bissau, hailed the agreement as a “very big step towards definitive peace” for the region. The peace talks, which lasted for three days, were marked by significant cooperation between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, with both nations playing key roles in resolving the long-standing dispute. The peace deal is expected to bring stability to Casamance, a region that has been divided for decades, while also enabling the resettlement of displaced people.

The agreement follows a series of similar accords in recent years, marking a significant shift towards a lasting resolution and a hopeful future for Senegal and its southern province.