Senegal has reached a landmark peace agreement with the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), concluding one of Africa’s longest-running separatist conflicts after four decades of violence that claimed thousands of lives and devastated regional economic development.
The historic accord, mediated by Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, marks a watershed moment for regional stability. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced the breakthrough during a joint press conference in Bissau, expressing gratitude on behalf of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for Guinea-Bissau’s pivotal role in facilitating the three-day negotiations.
“We had to close the work on the negotiations between the MFDC and the state of Senegal,” Sonko stated, highlighting the significance of the agreement.
The MFDC has fought for independence in Casamance—Senegal’s southern region geographically separated from the north by Gambia—since 1982. The protracted conflict paralyzed development in the resource-rich province, displacing countless residents and stunting economic growth.
Recent years have witnessed gradual progress toward reconciliation. A notable turning point came in May 2023 when approximately 250 MFDC fighters voluntarily surrendered their weapons in Mongone, signaling growing momentum for peace.
The agreement is expected to facilitate the return of displaced populations, revitalize agricultural production in the fertile region, and create opportunities for comprehensive development initiatives. Regional analysts view the success as potentially instructive for resolving other longstanding conflicts across the continent.
The accord represents a major diplomatic achievement for Senegal’s recently elected government, which had prioritized peaceful resolution of the Casamance situation.