The Senegalese army suffered heavy losses after an operation near the Gambian border. On March 11, one soldier was killed and six others were wounded during fierce clashes in the Kadialock area.

According to the Army Public Relations Directorate (DIRPA), troops encountered a group of armed individuals while conducting a mission to destroy cannabis fields . Although some assailants were neutralized during the exchange, the army is continuing its operations to protect the population and eradicate the rebels' war economy.

The roots of a persistent conflict

Casamance remains the scene of one of Africa's longest-running rebellions, initiated in 1982 by the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). While the intensity of the conflict has decreased over the decades, insecurity persists, fueled by illicit activities.

1. Timber trafficking: Illegal exploitation of precious forests.
2. Cannabis cultivation: A major source of funding for pockets of resistance.
3. Areas of retreat: The rebels often use the porous borders with Gambia and Guinea-Bissau to escape regular forces.

A peace process poised between hope and fragility

Despite these recent clashes, significant diplomatic progress has been made. At the end of February 2025, an "important agreement" was signed in Bissau between the new Senegalese government (elected in 2024) and representatives of the independence movement.

The major challenge: Reconciling the safe return of displaced persons and the dismantling of the last rebel bases, while transforming these lawless areas into spaces for legal agricultural development.