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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Wade orders army to pursue fleeing rebels into Gambia |
| 2011-12-23 |
| [Daily Nation (Kenya)] An infuriated Senegal ... a nation of about 14 million on the west coast of Africa bordering Mauretania to the north, Mali to the east, and a pair of Guineas to the south, one of them Bissau. It is 90 percent Mohammedan and has more than 80 political parties. Its primary purpose seems to be absorbing refugees... ese President Abdoulaye Wade has ordered the country's armed forces to pursue the fleeing separatist rebels "everywhere even inside Gambia". ... The Gambia is actually surrounded by Senegal on all sides but its west coast. It has a population of about 1.7 million. The difference between the two is that in colonial days Senegal was ruled by La Belle France and The Gambia (so-called because there's only one of it, unlike Guinea) was ruled by Britannia... President Wade gave the orders yesterday in Dakar in the aftermath of a deadly separatist rebel attack on Tuesday that killed about ten soldiers in the troubled southern Casamance region. "They could be hiding in the forests and across the border to the Gambia, but pursue them wherever they may be found and let them face the law", President Wade told the army. Analysts say the president's orders were to move the public attention from the political crisis rocking the country as he moves to contest a controversial third mandate. It is also believed that the order could be inimical to the already tense relationship between the two neighbouring countries that was heightened by last year's Iranian arm shipment alleged destined for the Gambia. The shipment which was aborted and confiscated in Nigeria, led Senegal and Gambia to break diplomatic ties with Iran with Senegal arguing that the arms were intended for the rebels. Like many Senegalese, President Wade is of the firm conviction that the Movement des Forces Democratique de Casamance (or Mfdc) which are fighting to obtain independence of the region are backed by neighbouring Gambia and Guinea Bissau. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 |
| Posted by: bman 2011-12-23 11:07 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: mom 2011-12-23 10:07 |