A fresh step towards Casamance’s peace. On May 13, the leader of the Diakaye warriors, the governor of the Ziguinchor district, and a government representative of Senegal came together for a historic handshake.
Almost 5000 people have been slain and thousands of people have been displaced by a revolt in the southern Senegalese area of Casamance. The Diakaye faction’s fighters have finally consented to disarm.
The leader of the Diakaye group, Fatoma Coly, declares, “I am driven by the desire to defend my brothers and sisters and the ladies of the masquis.”
“Casamance has no enemies. When I was offered the position of commander, I was clear with Diakaye’s leadership. I let them know that I am not a bloodthirsty man. I agree to lay down arms, if it is to bring peace and not to spread terror.”
The breakthrough comes after several years of negotiations.
It also follows last march’s signature of the Act II of the peace agreement signed between the state of Senegal and the Initiative for the reunification of the political and military wing of the Movement of the Democratic forces of Casamance. The state’s negotiator was hopeful for lasting peace.
“We must work together to consolidate peace, including through grassroots development actions, as we aim to find a definitive solution to this long-standing crisis,” Amiral Farba Sarr explained. “We hope to have the support and assistance of all the populations, since they are at the heart of all the concerns.”
“These now ex-fighters of Diakaye faction of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance took a strong action. They were one of the hard-line factions of the rebellion that has shaken Senegal’s South for mover than 40 years. As they agree to lay down arms, they bring back the hope of a definitive return to peace in a very rich region,” journalist Wahany Johnson Sambou.
