Issued Tuesday 28 March 2017
The
Cassamance region is in the southern region of Senegal which, although
connected in the East to Senegal, is separated from the rest of Senegal by the
Gambia. The Cassamance conflict is a low-level conflict that has been waged
between the Government of Senegal and the Movement of Democratic Forces of
Casamance (MFDC) since 1982.
History
reveals that Cassamance was once colonized by the Portuguese before they moved
to Guinea Bissau as Senegal was colonized by the French likewise The Gambia too
by Great Britain. The Portuguese signed a document with the people of
Cassamance stating their regaining of independence from Portugal. When the
Portuguese left for Bissau, the people of Senegal then advised the people of
Cassamance to give up their documents in order to join together and form one
government till later, since Cassamance lacks the expertise and know how on
governance. Which the people of Cassamance did as per request since they are
neighbors.
After
a while, renowned freedom fighters by the names Emile Badiane and Father
Augustin Diamacoune Senghor realized that there was once an agreement as per
the handing over of documents for the freedom and the liberation of Cassamance
for independence. Both Badiane and Father Senghor asked about the wear about of
the document to the Senegalese President then Abdou Diouf in order to
facilitate the Independence of Cassamance.
During
the struggle for the freedom and independence of cassamance at the initial
stage, Father Senghor was injected which results to his death, as he was
challenging the Senegalese to give him the signed documents. Then, Badian also
took up the challenge and struggled extremely hard for Cassamance and its
people to regain Freedom and Independence as per the agreement made by the
Purtuguese too.
In
the struggle he was seen as a treat to the Senegalese too and that also lead to
his death. As a result to which inspired the people of Cassamance fighting for
their independence remains an untold story in Africa.
In
2006, there exists a bilateral agreement between the President of Senegal, then
Abdoulaye Wade and the rebel group with the object of laying down arms and join
together to form one great Senegal. But then, some of the rebels thought it
wasn’t a great idea to abide by the proposal brought forward by the Senegalese
government which led to division among the rebel groups as they have different
aims and objectives in the struggle.
Those
various divided groups were led by Salif Sajo, Kamugai Diatta, and Paul Sambou
etc. But among all groups, the one led by Salif
Sajo became the strongest group with the strongest motive of leading
Cassamance to independence at all cost resulting to war for decades. Salif
became the headache of the Senegalese since he stands firm and mastermind the
revolution that is still fighting for the liberation of Cassamance with his
rebel group named MFDC.
Salif
is a reasonable man who drew my attention the day he released about eleven
arrested Senegalese soldiers during the brutal invasion. The event was then
witnessed by the Gambian government under the leadership of President Yahya
A.J.J. Jammeh and Amnesty International. He spoke at length about the purpose
of their existence claiming that the Senegalese government only sent the natives
of Cassamance residing in the Senegalese forces to invade Cassamance resulting
to brothers picking up arms and fighting against each other. Salif further
stated that since the rebellion was formed, known of the international media
went to Cassamance to ask about what conspired between them and the Senegalese
people but rather depends on the information provided by the Senegalese which
he strongly advocated that would not end the war in Cassamance. He also opened
rooms for dialogue to end the long existing chaos that Cassamance is subjected
to for decades.
This
war between the rebels of Cassamance and the government of Senegal started long
since and the Cassamance people would never stop until they regain what
rightfully belongs to them. Who feels it, knows it, the people of Cassamance
are subjected to pain and agony, brutality and corruption from the Senegalese
government.
Some
days in history, the Senegalese government invaded Cassamance capturing and
killing innocent women and children calling them rebels, burning down houses to
ash, destroying their animals, louting their resources and other sources of
living. This is when the revolution was mastermind by Sirlif to protect the
integrity of the people of Cassamance and they revolved against the Senegalese forces
which lead to the death of many.
The
Cassamance story is very sad as a good number of people lost their lives and
property, thanks to the Senegalese government for their brutality, subjecting
innocent women and children to vacate seeking for refuge in nearby countries.
The
real trick to good governance is to place the needs of the masses above
everything else; to lead not just with words but with action. Actions define
priorities. It’s the only way politicians can successfully bring us the long
sought dividend of democracy. It is time for all Africans to come up with
tangible solutions in order to safe Cassamance. What this tomorrow looks like
depends on our action today.
In
the Darfur killing it was written and in Cassamance it is being sealed: How many
shall join the hundreds of thousands, who have already perished, and how many
shall be born into a horrible life, who shall live and who shall die,
In
the Libya killing it was written and in Cassamance it is being sealed: who
shall be raped and who shall be tortured, who shall perish by sword and who by
bullets, which village shall be burned and which forest shall be looted,
In
the Somalia killing it was written and in Casamance it is being sealed: who
will make it to the refugee camp and who will die on the route, who will die by
hunger and who by thirst, who by disease and who by plague,
In
the Liberia killing it was written and in Cassamance it is being sealed: Who
will have their food rations cut and who will get enough food for another day,
whose child will die and whose will survive.
In
the Rwandan killing it was written and in Cassamance it is being sealed: who
will remain silent and who will scream for action who will be complacent and
who will have moral courage who will cave in to despair and who will be
elevated by hope.
But
using our voices on paper, exercising our power and demanding action through
nonviolence can help restore peace in Cassamance. NOW !!.
By:
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Alias:
Dr.ABS Taal
