Casamance

The Casamance is a region that extends along the same river in the south of Senegal between The Gambia and Guinea- Bissau. It differs mainly in the countryside and in the composition of the population from the rest of Senegal. The inhabitants of Casamance - especially those from the ethnic group of the Diola - have a strong own identity. In 1943 led Aline Sitoe Diatta an uprising against the French colonial power and thus became the most famous resistance fighter against colonialism in Senegal.

The quest for autonomy of the Diola is a cause of the emergence of the Mouvement de la Casamance Democratic Forces of ( MFDC ) and the Casamance conflict, which will be held between MFDC military since 1982, various rebel groups and the government of Senegal in the Casamance.

Geopolitical data

The Casamance is a region in south-western Senegal, the Gambia bordered to the north and to the south by Guinea- Bissau. Western border is the Atlantic Ocean and to the east of the transition in the Sahel region of Senegal. The area of ​​Casamance accounts for one -seventh of the total area of Senegal.

The Casamance is divided into three administrative districts which are named after the town's administrative headquarters of the region. These are the Ziguinchor Region (formerly Lower Casamance called ) to the west, the 2008 newly created region Sédhiou in the middle and the Kolda region in the east. The regions are further subdivided into départements. The names of the départements here correspond to the urban seats of the respective administration.

The Casamance is mainly inhabited by the ethnic group of the Diola, which account for about 60 % of the population. The Wolof are the largest ethnic group in Senegal make the Casamance region of only five percent.

With 75 % professes the greatest part of the inhabitants to Islam, 17 %, mostly Catholic, Christianity and 8 % to regional cults. The region has, therefore, in contrast to other parts of Senegal, a greater proportion of Christians in the population.

An important party in the Casamance is the MFDC was founded in 1947, which makes the regional interests of the Casamance against the Senegalese Government. He is a key player in the so-called Casamance conflict. Political and military wings of the MFDCs have, however, gradually alienated from each other since the beginning of the armed struggle in 1982. Today, independent rebel groups of the so-called front north and south of the front fighting autonomous and partially detached from political objectives in the Casamance.

The rainy season in the Casamance takes about four to five months, between June and October. In the region covered more precipitation than in the north of Senegal. Therefore, the vegetation is different than in the Sahel - dominated northern Senegal from subtropical rainforest.

Economy

The Casamance is mainly characterized by economy in the primary sector. Wood is produced for the construction and furniture production. In the valleys of the Casamanceflusses and its tributaries, especially rice is grown in the highlands of cereals, vegetables, salad, cashew nuts, mangoes, citrus and palm oil. Along the Casamanceflusses and its tributaries there are fishing and oyster farming.

Another pillar of the economy is a seasonal or prolonged labor migration of residents in the north to the Gambia and in the cities of Senegal.

Since the start of military discharge of the Casamance conflict in 1982, the productivity of the region has shrunk. Persistent uncertainty of the political situation and the mining of large swathes of land prevent farming the fields. - For a war economy has made to the benefit of especially the various rebel groups Casamance. Through exploitation of precious woods, hemp cultivation or by extortion to finance their equipment, and achieve a relative independence from foreign donors. The work remains no means limited to the Casamance, but refers to neighboring countries Gambia and Guinea- Bissau with.

Cities

Within the region of Casamance are among others these cities:

12.93 - 15.34Koordinaten: 12 ° 55 '48 " N, 15 ° 20' 24 " W

  • Region in Africa
  • Geography (Senegal)
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