Senegalese gov’t and MFDC rebels agree on resuming peace talks
By Frederic Tendeng
Hopes to discuss a lasting solution to the 28 year old war tearing Casamance have begin to rise as Senegal’s Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye on Thursday invites Casamance MFDC rebels to resume peace talks with his government in a bid to end the long cycle of violence between the army and the insurgents. The rebels didn’t wait long to answer.
The Senegalese Prime Minister was speaking in Ziguinchor where he officially launched the festivities marking the opening of an international cultural festival organized by Abdoulaye Baldé, the new elect Mayor of Ziguinchor. The Senegalese Prime Minister however didn’t give room for peace talks outside Senegal. “The Senegalese government is ready for negotiations, on Senegalese territory or anywhere in Senegal”, he said. Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye’s declaration came shortly after a call for talks made by Cesar Atoute Badiate, a military leader of the separatist Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC), who asked for negotiations a few days earlier while The Senegalese army forcefully kicked out his fighters from key positions they occupied in the outskirts of Ziguinchor. Notwithstanding, the Senegalese government renewed its willingness to discuss with MFDC as stated by Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye on March 27 when he said “the government was ready to receive leaders of the rebellion for consultations”.
Meanwhile, the call for peace talks appears not o have the same features from within the Casamance MFDC rebel movement that did not wait long to respond to the appeal launched by Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye. In a letter written to Senegalese authorities, MFDC’s Secretary General, Jean Marie François Biagui who lives in France, said his movement “maintains its desire to discuss peace” but puts forward, as conditions, the need to stick to the planned framework adopted in 2004 during the stalled Foundiougne talks between MFDC and the Senegalese Government. According to the rebel leader, his rebellion demands’ should be the basis for any discussion. Jean Marie François Biagui further requested that “talks be held under the auspices of a third party” that he said, “may be guarantor for any agreement sealed during the planned peace talks”. He insisted that the said “third party should be internationally recognized for its experience, competence and neutrality.
The Senegalese government and MFDC met on February 1st, 2005, at Foundiougne in the region of Fatick, to negotiate the means of implementing a peace deal that was signed with the rebels on December 30, 2004. A second meeting dubbed « Foundiougne 2 » was then envisaged, but the date has been postponed ever since. While the 2004 peace agreement went some way towards easing tensions, clashes never ceased entirely and violence has escalated in the past six months.
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