20100325
africanews

Following bloody fighting between Senegalese forces and rebels, in recent days, the rebel Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) have issued a statement, calling for negotiations with the government.
Senegal map
In a statement released Thursday, the rebels called for an ‘‘immediate cease-fire’’ to enable recommencement of negotiations for a sincere and comprehensive final return of peace in Casamance.

Signed by a rebel representative, Cesar Badiate, the MFDC listed a number of eminent personalities they say enjoy the confidence of Attika (the armed wing of the MFDC) to serve as facilitators of the negotiations, among them former Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio; Cardinal Adrien Sarr, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dakar; and the Imam Ratib of the town of Bignona in Southern Senegal, Fansou Bodian.

Other members of the list of possible negotiators identified by the rebels include a journalist and an activist.

The rebel statement however contradicted an earlier statement by Senegalese President Abdoulie Wade, which indicated that it had begun negotiations with the rebel representative, Caesar Badiate.

"We affirm that the statements by the head of the Senegalese government, which indicated that it had was negotiating directly with us, do not conform to the truth on the ground. As usual, the head of state is still abused by his so-called emissaries, "the statement said.