Casamance conflict The Casamance Conflict is a low - level civil war that has been waged between the Government of Senegal and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance ( MFDC ) since 1982 . The MFDC has called for the indepence of the Casamance region , whose population is religiously and ethnically distinct from the rest of Senegal . The bloodiest years of the conflict were during the 1992 - 2001 period and resulted in over a thousand battle related deaths . On December 30 , 2004 an agreement was reached between the MFDC and the government which promised to provide the voluntary integration of MFDC fighters into the country ' s paramilitary forces , economic recovery programmes for Casamance , de - mining and aid to returning refugees . Nevertheless some hard - line factions of the MFDC soon defected from elements of the MFDC who had signed the agreement and no negotiations took place following the breakdown of talks in Foundiougne on 2 February 2005 . Fighting again emerged in 2010 and 2011 but waned following the April 2012 election of Macky Sall . Peace negotiations under the auspices of Saint Egidio community took place in Rome and on 14 December 2012 , President Sall announced that Casamance would be a test - case for advanced decentralization policy . Background . The Casamance region is the southern region of Senegal which , although connected in the East to Senegal , is separated from the rest of Senegal by Gambia . Casamance is richer in mineral and ecological resources than the rest of Senegal and produces most of the country ' s food , rice and cotton . The principal inhabitants of the region are members of the Jola ethnic group and many are Christians or animists , unlike the majority of Senegalese who are Muslims . The sentiment has existed amongst Diola that they do not benefit sufficiently from the region ' s richness and that Dakar , the capital , reaps most of the profit from the region ' s products . History . 1980s . According to sources , Senegal ’ s first president , Leopold Senghor , made a promise to Casamance ’ s leaders before independence from France in 1960 that if they joined Senegal for 20 years they would have their own independence afterwards . When the government did not follow through on the promise in 1980 , street demonstrations in the Casamance capital , Ziguinchor , turned violent . The height of popularity of the MFDC followed what human rights groups have said was brutal repression against demonstrators calling on officials to make good on Senghor ’ s promise . The Casamance region is mostly inhabited by the Jola people who have a long tradition of independence movements . The MFDC had organised peaceful independence demonstrations . In 1982 the organisation ' s leaders were arrested , sparking a vicious circle of increased resistance and Senegalese Army clampdowns . 1990s . In 1990 , the MFDC began reprisals by attacking military buildings in the region , with alleged covert support from the Bissau - Guinean Army . The Senegalese Army in turn attacked MFDC bases in Basse Casamance and Guinea - Bissau , but both sides were also accused of attacking non - combatants . Several ceasefire s were agreed during the 1990s , but none lasted , and the conflict hit European headlines when four French tourists disappeared , both sides blaming each other . Father Augustin Diamacoune Senghor had come to lead the MFDC and pursued a policy of talks and reconciliation . However , the Senegalese government refused to consider independence for the region , leading some MFDC members to split and restart the fighting . Another ceasefire was signed in 1997 , but about 500 people were reported dead in battles up until March 2001 , when Senghor and Abdoulaye Wade , the President of Senegal , agreed to a peace deal . This allowed for the release of prisoners , the return of refugees and clearance of land mine s but did not bring autonomy . Some in the MFDC regarded this as a betrayal , and the movement split with two factions battling each other . 2000s . Since the split , low - level fighting has continued in the region . Another round of negotiations took place in 2005 . Its results were , however , proved partial and armed clashes between MFDC factions and the army continued in 2006 , prompting thousands of civilians to flee across the border to The Gambia . Father Senghor died in January 2007 . In October 2010 , an illegal shipment of arms from Iran was seized in Lagos , Nigeria . The Senegalese government suspected that the arms were destined for the Casamance , and recalled its ambassador to Tehran over the matter . Heavy fighting occurred in December 2010 when about 100 MDFC fighters attempted to take Bignona south of the Gambian border supported by heavy weapons , such as mortars and machine guns . They were repulsed with several casualties by Senegalese soldiers who suffered seven dead in the engagement . Recent developments . On December 21 , 2011 , Senegal media reported that 12 soldiers were killed in Senegal ' s Casamance region following a separatist rebel attack on an army base near the town of Bignona . Three more soldiers were killed in an attack the Senegalese government blamed on separatists in the region on February 14 , 2012 . The attacks continued into March as four soldiers were killed and eight others injured in two separate incidents on the 11 and 23 . On April 5 , 2012 , newly sworn - in President Macky Sall said that ensuring peace in the south would be a top priority for his administration in his first public speech since taking office . He also expressed confidence that the leaders of Gambia and Guinea - Bissau can be involved in the efforts to find a solution to the long - running conflict .