Gambiaj.com – (ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal) – Three Senegalese soldiers have been killed and at least fifteen others injured in incidents reported along the Senegal-Gambia border in the troubled Casamance region, according to early information from security sources.
Initial military reports indicate that the fatalities were not the result of enemy fire but rather a malfunction involving an overheated mortar. The incident, described as accidental, also left twelve soldiers wounded.
Separately, clashes that erupted earlier in the day between Senegalese forces and suspected fighters from the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) resulted in three additional injuries among troops engaged in ongoing operations.
The developments come amid heightened military activity in southern Senegal, particularly in areas near the border with The Gambia, where the army has intensified operations following recent deadly confrontations.
Last week, fighting around Kadialock led to the death of a senior non-commissioned officer, prompting a reinforced offensive targeting MFDC positions.
Residents in border communities have reported sporadic gunfire and increased troop movements, reflecting a volatile security situation in the region.
While the Senegalese military has yet to issue an official statement on the latest casualties, the incidents underscore the risks faced by troops operating in Casamance, where a decades-long separatist insurgency continues despite periods of relative calm.
The MFDC, one of West Africa’s longest-running rebel movements, has been engaged in a low-intensity conflict with the Senegalese state for over four decades, with intermittent escalations often linked to military operations and territorial control.
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