CASAMANCE
— Seat of government: Ziguinchor.
— Status: Not democratic.
— Structure: Single-party insurrection.
— Governing party: Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamance.
— Head of government: Jean-Marie François Biagui.
— Assessment: Jola-based insurrectionist state in an isolated segment of recognized Sénégal, distinguished by language and religion (Catholicism). There has been some disagreement in the ruling party between the political wing, led by Augustin Diamacoune-Senghor and Biagui, which favored a negotiated settlement, and the military wing, Atika, which did not. The political wing agreed to peace deals with Sénégal in 2001 and 2004. Diamacoune-Senghor died in 2007. The increasing illiberalism of Abdulaay Wàdd in Sénégal aggravated the insurrection in 2010, while the election of Macky Sall in 2012 tamped it somewhat. In a change of positions, rejectionist military leader Salif Sadio declared a unilateral ceasefire in 2014, while Biagui rejected it.
— Updated: 2014 December 3.
O.T. FORD