A N E P W NETWORK FOR PEACEBUILDING

B u e i c ld a WARN POLICY BRIEF in e g r P Re fo DECEMBER 8, 2015 lationships

T W A' P C: T T C C

1.0 INTRODUCTION into refuge in neighbouring Guinea- This policy brief emanates from the The province in Southern Bissau and ². proceedings of a consultative meeting Region of with close proximity on “Revisiting the Dynamics of the to Guinea Bissau and The Gambia has Several ceasefire agreements were Casamance Conflicts: Non-state Actors experienced protracted civil war reached in the 1990s,N notably in May Perspectives” convened by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, between the Government of Senegal 1991, June 1993 and January 1 999 E and the Movement of Democratic re s p e c t i ve l y fo r a n e g o t i a te d WANEP in Accra, Ghana from August 20 Forces of Casamance (MFDC) sincAe to 21 2015. The meeting was designed settlement yet peace continues to be 1982. to develop new strategies and elusive in the region. On 26th January operational techniques, including ideas On December 26, 1982, the tension in 2000, the conflicting parties, the for a new level Pof partnership between C a s a m a n c e e r u p t e d i n a p r o - Government of Senegal and MFDC, independence demonstration, which once again signed the Peace state agencies and CSOs, which will was staged in the regional capital, Accord and on 30th December 2004, a contribute to the peace and security architecture to be adopted in the . Due to theW inter-connections rival MFDC³ group signed the General region. Participants drawn from the between the ethnic Diolas, Balantes and P e a c e A g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e Mandingos of Northern Guinea Bissau Economic Community of West African and the Casamance, the Republics of Government⁴. Most recently, on April States (ECOWAS), Civil Society Guinea Bissau and The Gambia have 30, 2014 the leader of MFDC agreed to a Organizations (CSO), academia and also become actors to the conflicts¹. The ceasefire and peace talks⁵. Despite research institutions from The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Senegal attended the conflict has been described as Africa's these various negotiations, the conflict meeting. The policy brief summarizes longest civil war and according to United continues to defy all kinds of solutions the views of participants at the meeting Nations estimate; the fighting has killed proffered by state and non-state actors as well as insights from WANEP's over 5,000 people, internally displaced at both regional and international monitoring of the security dynamics in over 60,000, and sent tens of thousands levels. the Casamance region. 1 Aïssatou Fall, KAIPTC MONOGRAPH No. 7 -Dec 2010 2 B David Seyferth: Senegal: An End to One of Africa's Longest Civil Conflicts? Africa Source; July 9, 2014 3 u e December 30, 2004 - Representative of the Senegalese government and the MFDC separatist movement signed a peacec accord in the Casamancais town iofl Ziguinchor, (Panafrican News Agency, 12/30/2004, "Govt, MFDC sign peace protocol over Casamance") 4 d a Senegal's Casamance MFDC rebels declare a ceasefire, BBC news Africa, April 30, 2014. The MFDC is composed of tweo main parts: a political and a military wing called iAntika 5 David Seyferth: Senegal: An Endg to One of Africa's Longest Civil Conflicts? Africa Source; July 9, 2014 P R or West Africa Earlye Warning & EARLY RESPONSE Ne ftwork (WARN) latio hips The West Africa Early Warning Network (WARN) is WARN covers the entirne Economics Community of this agreement is to interface WARN with the an integral part of the West Africa Preventive West African States (ECOWAS) region . ECOWAS Early Warning Systems to optimize early Peacebuilding Program co-ordinated by the West warning conflict prevention in West Africa. In view Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). Since 2002, WANEP entered into an agreement with of this development, WANEP has been operating a Through its WARN Program, WANEP is setting the ECOWAS through the signing of a Memorandum of liaison office located at the ECOWAS Secretariat in stage for a civil society-based early warning and Understanding (MOU) in the framework of capacity Abuja, since April 2003. response network in Africa with emphasis on building in Conflict Prevention. One of the goals of human security.

In recognition of the role and achievements of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding in Africa, particularly in West Africa, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations at its substantive session of 2006 granted WANEP Special Consultative Status to the UN. WANEP is therefore mandated to designate official representatives to the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna to further its advocacy and outreach strategies for peace and human security. Copy Right: WANEP© 2015 THE CASAMANCE T W A' P C: T T C C

2.0 CURRENT CONTEXT AND leadership of the MFDC may not be 3 . 0 M A N A G I N G T H E DYNAMICS OF THE CASAMANCE encouraged to genuinely pursue peace. C A S A M A N C E C O N F L I C T : Hence, it is imperative that the issues CONFLICT are reframed to include participative RESPONSE STRATEGIES AND The protracted conflict has pitted the governance and decentralization CHALLENGES Jolo people, a predominantly Christian Addressing Structural Causes of the group against the Government of Proliferation of Small Arms: Another Conflict: The feeling of exclusion from Senegal. The current situation in factor exacerbating the conflicts in the decision-making, neglect of the region Casamance remains volatile with Casamance is the proliferation of small and lack of basic infrastructural devastating consequences in the region arms and ammunitions. The presence of development in the area constitute a including proliferation of small arms, ex-combatants, who have fought in hindrance to peace in the region. which have created a fertile ground for conflicts in other parts of the region and However, the provision of basic crimes, localized communal conflicts, c o n t i n e n t c o u p l e d w i t h t h e infrastructures by President and illegal trafficking of products such as proliferation of weapons, also in Casamance as part of crisis timber. While several reasons may be contributes to the exacerbation of the management mechanism to cushion attributed for the persistent tensions, conflict. The presence of mines and the socio-economic effects of the some issues of concern include: eruption of conflict among combatants conflict is a laudable development that results in cross borNder incursions and should be sustained. Furthermore, Fractionalization of MFDC: The there is an increased involvement of the spread of arms such as the 2 010 E fragmentation of the MFDC has incident at the Foni border. Insufficient Casamance region through the renewed constituted a barrier to the peacefulA sense of citizenship and sense of resources including personnel to fully transformation of the conflict owing to belonging to the Senegal and greater i m p l e m e n t t h e D i s a r m a m e n t , the lack of centralized command centre. political participa tion Demobilization and Reintegration The fractionalization of the rebel groups P (DDR) Programme further exacerbate has made negotiation with the right the situation. Implementation of Peace Agreements: group cumbersome; and even when While the implementation of the cease- negotiations are reached,W it affects the fire agreements coupled with a growing transformation of the conflict because rapprochement between government most of the peace initiatives are not and the MFDC has enabled the supported by the entire group. While Government to gradually regain control the rapprochement between Ousmane of zones hitherto controlled by the and Niantang Diatta and Cesar Atoute MFDC, the challenges of the full Badiate in the Southern front is a good implementation of the peace accords sign, the rift between the Southern front have been inconsistent with each party and the Northern Front controlled by trading blames. However, analysts have Salfi Sadio is a major threat given the argued that the MFDC is not the only different viewpoints in the peace player at fault as the Government of process. This is evident in the fact that Senegal has allegedly failed to support while the Northern Front wants to viable paths to peace because of the negotiate dirBectly with the Government lack of coordination and follow-up of of Senegal, the Southern Front seeks an political and economic ceommitments. internal MFDuC dialogue before any Be that as it may, the 2014 peace accord, negotiation with thei Government. which was facilitated byc the Community ld of Sant'Egidio (Cathaolic Organization Mistrust and Absence of Common based in ), cearries the promise of a Strategy by Member Stiantes: The visit of resolution via several factors. These the Senegalese Presidegnt to the factors in clPude sustained informal Gambian President to explore a venues meetings,r peace initiatives by diverse for sustainable peace in the CasamanceR stafkoeholders, the Government's signals some level of commitment bye l s decision to cancel the arrest warrant the President of Senegal to involve atio hip against Salif Sadio, one of the leaders of presidents of neighboring countries in ns MFDC, the release of the mine clearers finding lasting solution to the conflict. held hostage by MFDC and the active However, the absence of a common role of mediation by the Community of strategy by the States occasioned by Sant'Egidio. alleged mistrust by the Governments of the affected member states constitutes R e g i o n a l I n t e r v e n t i o n s a n d an impeding factor to the peaceful Implications: despite the low-intensity transformation of the conflict. In the of the conflict, it has taken a regional absence of a political framework, the dimension. On one hand, the inter-

WANEP has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 2 THE CASAMANCE T W A' P C: T T C C connectedness between the ethnic 4.0 IMPLICATIONS OF THE 5.0 TRANSFORMING THE groups notably the Balantes, Diolas and CONFLICT CASAMANCE CONFLICT Madingos of Northern Guinea Bissau The conflict has claimed the lives of up Strategies and options for transforming and troubled Casamance region of to 5,000 people and created refugee the conflict on short, medium and long- Senegal has made Guinea Bissau's role flow into Guinea Bissau and The term basis include but not limited to the in the conflict crucial. On the other hand, Gambia. A direct impact of the exodus following measures: similar inter-connections, especially the of refugee is the strained regional fact that the MFDC rebels⁶ are ethnic relations, with Senegal allegedly Government of Senegal: kinsmen of President Jammeh with accusing its neighbors of providing · D i a l o g u e w i t h re l e va n t allegations of the latter supplying the refuge and assistance to MDFC rebels stakeholders including the diverse ammunitions used by the MFDC rebels for political leverage at various phases. factions and also include neighboring makes the role of The Gambia crucial in The conflict has also prevented the countries of Guinea Bissau and The the conflict. In a bid to transform the Government of Senegal's participation Gambia. conflict, ECOWAS has taken diverse in larger peacekeeping missions in West · Take the lead in mobilizing steps including a conflict assessment in Africa and the continent as a whole. neighboring countries and the regional 2013, which recommended closer While President Macky Sall has pledged organizations to become active partners collaborations with local civil society to deploy over 2,500 troops to in finding a solution to the Casamance actors to complement government and peacekeeping Noperations in Cote conflict and by extension, the ECOWAS efforts towards addressing the d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Darfur ESenegambia zone. security challenges posed by thAe etc., as long as the conflict persists, the · Promote economic viability of conflict. Although ECOWAS has Senegalese army will have limited the area in order to bridge the perceived established a coordinating unit in the capacity to intervene in peacekeeping economic g ap between north and south region to facilitate gender integration in missions within the region and the as well as pPromote freedom of development towards the promotion of continent. expression and association. peace and security, the lack of an · Government of Senegal to ECOWAS Protocol to ensure the The exploitation of the region's promote gender equality in all areas implementation of publicW commitment extensive agriculture and tourism has including decision-making, dialogue made by governments of member states been thwarted by the sporadic violence. and mediation and peace education. to end the conflict is a gap in the Aside from destroying hundreds of The Government should also respect transformation of the conflict. villages, the fighting has rendered and uphold the rights of the people, thousands of hectares of arable land, especially women and involve them in suitable for producing rice, vegetables peace negotiations and fruit unusable due to unexploded ammunition and landmines⁷. If the The Economic Community of West landmines are cleared, the farmlands African States (ECOWAS): could be used to grow fruit, vegetables · Explore avenues for creating and rice thus boosting agriculture in the trust and confidence between region. The volatility of the region that presidents of affected member states as B accounted for approximately 50,000 measures to promote peace in the visitors per year has drastically reduced region. e u tourist activities. The destruction of the · Prevail on the Government of i tourist industry and the loss of Senegal to collaboracte with other ld agricultural production have crippled countries, especiallya the neighboring economic development in Casamance, member states, eon the development in leaving the region isolated and and adoption of strategies to address g undeserved. According to reports, the the underlying P causes of the conflict. combination of low-level conflict and · rAdopt protocols to back the R widespread unemployment is a major communiquéfo on the Casamance conflict ecausel of refugees fleeing Senegal. s to ensure adherence by member states. atio hip This way, the regional bloc can ensure ns implementation of peace accords adopted by disputing parties. · ECOWAS Parliament should also intervene in the dispute. The Parliament's Committee responsible for

6 Monograph on Casamance Conflict by KAIPTC. Page 20 7 www..com/article/us-senegal-casamance

WANEP has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 3 THE CASAMANCE T W A' P C: T T C C conflict management should undertake · CSOs should serve as oversight a fact-finding mission on Casamance institutions to monitor all development and prepare a report to the Parliament. issues affecting the conflict zone, and T h e re p o r t s h o u l d ge n e rate a ensure that information is disseminated declaration/resolution that would be to all sectors of the society as well as submitted to the Authority of Heads of report on its implementation. State and Government · In order to build capacity and confidence, CSOs should lead in the Civil Society Organizations and Media: provision of skills acquisition and · Should collaborate with training for ex-combatants. government and other relevant · The media should be trained stakeholders to facilitate dialogue on peace and conflict management to between the Senegalese Government ensure conflict-sensitive reportage. and the diverse factions of MFDC, For a collective involvement and including the political and military participation, women should be trained wings of the group. as mediators and negotiators to the · CSOs in the Casamance region Casamance Conflict. should monitor implementation of N projects to ensure that it reaches the E targeted beneficiaries A P W

B u e i c ld a in e g r P Re fo lationships

Authors: Mfrekeobong Ukpanah and Moussa Drame Peer Review: WANEP Regional Peace Monitoring Centre Quality Assurance: Levinia Addae-Mensah and Queeneth Tawo Address enquiries to: WANEP Regional Peace Monitoring Centree. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: +233 302 775 975/77; Fax: +233 302 776 018 Website: www.wanep.org; Design & Layout: Kwesi Enchill

WANEP has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 4