The Senegalese army has intensified military operations in the southern Casamance region following a night raid in Djinaki, near the Gambian border, where armed assailants looted shops, stole phones, and fled under the cover of darkness. During a subsequent search operation in the Mongone area, one soldier was reported missing and another injured in a clash with the attackers. Military officials confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate the missing soldier and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
The attack comes at a sensitive time as Senegal reignites peace efforts in the Casamance region, which has been plagued by a separatist conflict since the early 1980s. The conflict, led by factions of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), has resulted in hundreds of deaths and widespread displacement over the years.
To support long-term peace, authorities have rolled out the “Diomaye Plan”, named after newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The initiative focuses on reconstruction, economic development, and reintegration of former combatants, signaling a renewed national commitment to ending the decades-long unrest. Casamance remains Senegal’s most militarized region, and this latest attack underscores the fragile security landscape despite recent diplomatic and developmental overtures.
