Three years after the signing of the Mongone Accords, Casamance finds itself at a decisive turning point. Between prayers, testimonies from former combatants, pleas from elected officials, appeals from women, and commitments from the State, the commemoration of the laying down of arms by the Front Nord Diakaye highlights the progress made, but also the challenges that remain to be overcome to transform fragile hope into lasting peace.

Multiple voices for the same plea for peace

Peace, a gift and a mission, according to Father Camille Gomis. The priest from Ziguinchor, representing the bishop, reminded everyone that "God made us for life, not for death." For him, peace is a divine gift, but also a human mission: "He wants to make us all peacemakers." His spiritual call invites us to reject any act that could harm others and to build lasting fraternity.

For Fatoma Coly, former commander of the Diakaye Northern Front and signatory of the Mongone agreements, it took courage to renounce arms.

This former MFDC fighter gave a powerful testimony on this occasion: “Initially, we took up arms. But we realized that this was not the right thing to do. The best solution was to lay down (arms) and sit down at a table with the State of Senegal.”

He praised the mediators "who spoke the truth and believed in peace," before declaring that "laying down arms is not a movie, but a conviction."

In the wake of this, Fatoma Coly calls on other factions to join this process so that, "perhaps by next year, all components of the MFDC can celebrate definitive peace together."

Léonie Gomis, vice-president of the Platform of Women for Peace in Casamance (PFPC), gave voice to women's demands for inclusion and reparations. She praised the "decisive and courageous act" of the former combatants of Diakaye, describing their gesture as having "great historical significance."

She called on the government to hold inclusive negotiations with all factions of the MFDC. She advocated for justice and reparations commissions for victims, and for the clear participation of civil society in reconstruction. "Peace will be lasting if and only if all factions lay down their arms," she emphasized.

Agreements, actions, challenges and prospects for Casamance

The mayor of Djignaki, a town in the Bignona department where the 2023 agreements were signed, holds up Mongone as a model. Alfouseïny Amarta Diémé emphasized the importance of the Mongone agreements: "An effective surrender of weapons, confirmed by donors and mediators."

He emphasizes that peace must be accompanied by concrete actions: opening up isolated areas, infrastructure development, land management, mobility, and economic development of harvests. He believes that Mongone and Diakaye should serve as model communities to inspire other localities.

Henri Ndecky, sub-regional coordinator of civil society organizations for peace in Casamance, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, emphasized the commitments of both parties and the challenges to be met.

 

The COSPAC coordinator reiterated that both parties had honored their commitments: mass civil registration (over 62,000 people), agricultural training for 150 ex-combatants, and effective demobilization. He also urged stakeholders to continue negotiations with other fronts, address resource-related conflicts (timber, cannabis), and ensure sustainable socioeconomic support despite the suspension of some international funding. "Our hope is that through this initiative, other factions will heed our call and join the process for lasting peace."

The State and local authorities facing the challenges of North Indian

The prefect of Bignona stressed the need to transform fragile gains into irreversible momentum. "True peace is not limited to the absence of weapons. It requires social justice, economic equity, and trust," Mamadou Khouma remains convinced.

He also advocated for opening up isolated communities, reconciliation and social cohesion, youth employment and the prevention of land conflicts.

Furthermore, the prefect welcomed the implementation of the Diomaye Plan for Casamance (53 billion in investments).

The commemoration of the Mongone agreements serves as a reminder that peace in Casamance is a collective endeavor. Spiritual, political, civil, and military voices converge on the same plea: inclusion, justice, reparations, and development.

The case of Diakaye illustrates that peace is possible when weapons fall silent and voices are raised. But for this peace to become lasting, the scope of negotiations must be broadened, former combatants must be supported, and reconciliation must be integrated into daily life.