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Bullets land in Gambia as MFDC clash with Senegalese forces

May 10, 2023, 1:02 PM | Article By: Momodou Jawo

Stray bullets have been reported to have landed in two Gambia border villages in the Foni District of West Coast Region (WCR) as Senegalese forces have engaged in a fresh round of clash with Casamance rebels, The Point has been reliably informed.

The Senegalese forces, who are currently stationed in Casamance, the southern part of Senegal, in the early hours of yesterday clashed with separatists of the Movement of the Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC).

The stray bullets were reported to have landed at the villages of Kanyani and Oupat. The bullet that landed at Kanyani village reportedly hit one house while the other bullet that landed at Oupat hit the village mosque. 

The clash between the Senegalese forces and the MFDC rebels which occurred yesterday around 6 a.m. has reportedly affected effective teaching and learning within the border schools of the Foni District.

An anonymous source who is familiar with the matter has confirmed the development, saying: “We were woken up with the sound of heavy gunshots in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The Senegalese Forces were reportedly clashing with the MFDC rebels in Casamance. The incident was happening around Jakin village which is in The Gambia,” our source narrated.

“I can tell you that people are scared whenever we hear the sounds of gun within the area. However, this time around, schools within the border villages are not yet closed. But when we were in classrooms, we were hearing the gun sounds and as a result, this has affected Tuesday’s classes a little bit because the children were not concentrating as they were scared.” 

The spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) couldn’t be reached for comments at the time of going to press.