Why is Senegal sending troops to Casamance?

It’s one of the longest running separatist conflicts in the world that has seen the Senegalese army launch an operation against rebels in the Casamance region, in the south of the country. It’s an area that’s distinct socially and linguistically, and cut off from the rest of the country by The Gambia.

The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance – the MFDC – has been fighting the central government for the last 40 years – but the conflict is often overshadowed by more violent ones in the region including in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Chad.

Thousands have died over the last four decades – with thousands more displaced and the farming and tourism industries blighted.

So what’s behind this long running conflict? And what is happening now?

Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guest: Nicolas Negoce (@nicolasnegoce)

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