The European Union (EU) expressed on Saturday its commitment, for two more years, to support the negotiations and the implementation of political agreements to resolve the conflict in Casamance (southern Senegal).
Indeed, Marc Tisani, one of the EU officials said that in the ceremony to mark the laying down of arms by fighters of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance, the EU will continue its support to local mediation to help community actors and support demining operations.
On Saturday, an agreement to lay down arms was signed between the Senegalese state and a faction of the MFDC, under which at least 250 MFDC fighters committed themselves to lay down their arms at a ceremony organized in Mongone, a locality in the department of Bignona.
The ceremony was attended by several facilitators of the process, technical partners, territorial representatives, and the governor of Ziguinchor Guedj Diouf.
While stressing that Senegal is a key partner of the European Union in West Africa and on the African continent, Mr. Tisani welcomed this ceremony, a historic day according to him, which marks a decisive step towards lasting peace in the natural region of Casamance.
Mr. Tisani also emphasized the important role of the European Union in the promotion of international peace and security and Africa in particular.
The European Union representative considered that the conflict in Casamance, which has lasted for more than 40 years, is the longest armed conflict in Africa, leaving more than 5,000 dead and 60,000 displaced.