The Senegalese army, alongside gendarmerie forces and detection dogs, dismantled cannabis plantations in Casamance in early May—a recent development in one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts. Despite a weakened separatist rebellion, peace remains elusive in southern Senegal after 43 years of sporadic violence.
The military operation, conducted near the Gambian border—a known stronghold of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), which has fought for independence since 1982—was executed without major resistance. Authorities reported 14 arrests, the seizure of military-grade weapons, and over six metric tons of cannabis, according to Colonel Cheikh Guèye, regional military commander in Ziguinchor, the conflict’s epicenter.
The MFDC, once a formidable force, now struggles with dwindling manpower and resources. “The rebellion is severely weakened,” a security analyst noted. “Remaining fighters are aging, recruitment has halted, and internal divisions have crippled their operational capacity.” Additionally, neighboring Guinea-Bissau and Gambia—previously key support zones—have aligned with Dakar to curb rebel activities, cutting off critical supply routes for arms and munitions.
Local analysts attribute the rebellion’s decline to eroding local support. “The MFDC’s political and emotional base has collapsed,” a Casamance civil society leader explained. “Communities, disillusioned by decades of failed promises, now prioritize peace over separatist ideals.” The emergence of political leaders from Casamance, including Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has further dampened separatist sentiment by fostering a sense of inclusion in national governance.
Sonko, addressing the issue in Ziguinchor, emphasized that the MFDC has “failed to control a single village in over 40 years.” His remarks followed a March incident where three soldiers died and six were injured in a cannabis-related explosion during anti-drug operations. Earlier in the month, another fatal attack claimed one life and left six wounded. In November, a soldier held captive for seven months by armed factions was finally released.
“The rebels no longer speak of independence as a realistic goal,” Sonko stated. “Their primary concern is cannabis cultivation. We will deploy all necessary means to dismantle this economy of war.” The colonel added that cannabis revenue fuels rebel activities, calling the May operation a strategic strike against their financial lifeline.
In the northern Sindian region, near the Gambian border, instability persists due to dense forests and poor infrastructure, despite fertile agricultural land. “Poor road networks and economic hardship push some communities toward illicit trade,” noted Mamadou Sadio, a former elite unit member. Residents have even sought religious rulings on cannabis cultivation, highlighting the moral and economic dilemmas at play.
Sonko has extended an olive branch to the MFDC but remains firm on territorial integrity. “We cannot tolerate the slightest division of our land.” Meanwhile, local peace accords show progress: a faction commemorated a three-year truce in Ziguinchor this week, while another agreement signed in Bissau in February 2025 with a different faction remains fragile. Across Casamance, displaced communities are gradually returning home as hostilities ease and partial disarmament takes hold. Yet, analysts warn that true pacification hinges on the remaining armed groups laying down their weapons.
