Senegal signed an agreement with separatist rebels. But will this end one of Africa’s longest conflicts?

Senegal Dhaka (AP) – A new peace agreement between Senegal and separatist rebel groups in the southern part of the country has been touted by the government as a key step toward ending one of Africa’s longest conflicts. However, analysts say this does not involve all rebellious analysis and does not resolve the root cause of the conflict.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced the deal signed by the government, the Casamance Democratic Forces or the MDFC rebel group, which was signed by the government, visited the neighboring Guinea-Bissau on Monday.

Past peace agreements failed to end the battle in the Casamians region, the Gambian state separated from the rest of Senegal, historically suffered a lower rate of development and losses into the more prosperous northern market.

Rebels have been fighting for Casamas’ independence since the early 1980s, believing that the region has been neglected by the government.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko touted the latest peace agreement, an important step in ensuring lasting peace in Casamance, with about 1.6 million people.

Vincent Foucher, a political scientist based in France’s National Center for Scientific Research, said the agreement provides presidential pardons for other insurgents and provides other insurgents with a path to social reintegration for other insurgents.

However, this only involves the factions of the rebel group, which are inferior to the other two factions and excludes the hardline factions led by Salif Sadio, the most powerful rebel leader.

“I haven’t seen a solution yet. It’s a continuation of endless discussions with the schizophrenia,” he said. “The Senegalese state is not prepared to make political or administrative concessions required by other factions that have not yet signed a peace agreement.”

The Senegal government did not immediately respond to the AP’s investigation to obtain comments on the claim.

Mohamed Traoré, a PhD researcher at Cheikh Anta Anta Diop University of Dakar, said the rebels’ call for independence in the region would be hard to ignore.

“The Casamens nationals, especially young people, are proud to belong to Senegal today, but the MFDC’s hard wing continues to call for independence,” Trare said.

The rebels did not speak publicly about the deal.

But earlier this year, Amidou Juba, a spokesman for one of the factions not involved in the peace agreement, accused the Senegalese government of “the people who choose to talk to”, a trend he said would not help the return of peace in the region.

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Ahmed reported from Bamako, Mali.