Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia – The Senegalese army has launched a military operation along its southern border with The Gambia following deadly clashes on March 12 near Kadialok, which claimed the life of Sergeant Major Nfally Sonko of the Parachute Battalion.
Security sources and local accounts indicate that the operation targets fighters of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), a long-running separatist movement in Senegal’s Casamance region. Reports suggest Senegalese forces have advanced in the area, with several rebel elements reportedly neutralized, although official confirmation remains limited.
Senegalese troops are currently conducting operations aimed at destroying cannabis fields and suspected rebel bases near Kalathiaye and Kadialock (Sindian). Clashes with the MFDC rebels resulted in one casualty among the Senegalese army.
Late-night gunfire and heavy artillery exchanges have been reported across the border zone, triggering widespread fear among civilians. Residents of Gambian border communities such as Jifanga, Jakine, and surrounding villages fled their homes as intense shooting echoed through the night.
By Monday morning, a heavy Senegalese military presence was observed in key Casamance border villages, including Kalathiaye, Elole, and Diaboudior in the commune of Djibidione, underscoring the scale of the confrontation.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Senegalese forces warned residents in nearby Gambian villages, including Jakine, to evacuate to avoid potential collateral damage.
This has prompted the movement of families from both sides of the border into safer areas within The Gambia, notably Bulailai, Sibanor, Jako, and Kabokorr.
Over the weekend, panic gripped several Gambian communities, particularly Gifanga and Sibanor, as shells from the Casamance clashes reportedly landed in Gambian territory. Witnesses described a night of terror marked by loud explosions and falling shrapnel.
“We hid under beds as the sky lit up with blasts. Our kids screamed; we thought the war was over,” said one resident, reflecting the trauma experienced by civilians caught in the crossfire. Another resident lamented that Gambians continue to suffer the consequences of a conflict “that is not ours.”
The incidents have reignited concerns over the spillover effects of the Casamance conflict into Gambian territory, raising questions about civilian protection and territorial integrity.
Hon. Bakary K. Badjie, National Assembly Member for Foni Bintang and leader of the United Gambian Front, issued a strong condemnation of the shelling. He described the incursions as “unacceptable” and called on the government to take immediate action.
“Shells invading our sovereign territory are unacceptable. Why does this happen with every clash?” Badjie asked, urging the Ministry of Defense to respond and for the government to engage Senegal diplomatically.
He further called for enhanced security measures to protect border communities, stressing that “their safety is our priority; no more fear in a war that’s not ours.”
As tensions remain high, residents in The Gambia’s Foni region continue to brace for further developments, with growing calls for urgent diplomatic intervention to prevent further civilian harm.
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