The return to Ziguinchor region of Mayor Ousmane Sonko, saw him being welcomed as a hero after more than eight months in jail. The Diomaye President coalition campaign took the opportunity to make one of the major announcements of  its campaign. The Diomaye Sonko duo announced plans to end the Casamance conflict in a “short period” of time after taking office.

The enthusiastic audience cheered as Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his tutor, Ousmane Sonko, declared that the Casamance problem would finally be solved. “We will give ourselves a short period to end the Casamance conflict,” said Diomaye.

The Senegalese government and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), a separatist group seeking the territory’s independence, have been at odds for a long time in the Casamance region.

“We are committed to working tirelessly towards achieving peace and stability in the region,” said Sonko. Loud cheers from the audience demonstrated their support for the coalition’s audacious objective. Having been spared the conflict’s shadow for so long, the residents of Casamance now had optimism for a better future. The pledges made by the Pastef pair struck a chord with the audience, inspiring hope and a sense of solidarity among those assembled in Bignona that day.

Ousmane Sonko asserts, “This conflict has continued for much too long. It is the oldest war in Africa, if not the entire globe, and it pays absolutely no tribute to Senegal. It has to be put to an end once and for all in order to fully utilize Casamance’s economic potential for Senegal’s and the people’s benefit. We’ll finish it soon, as candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated.”

Born in Thiès, Senegal, Ousmane Sonko is a well-known politician most recognized for his work as the mayor of Ziguinchor, a city in the Casamance area. Sonko is a major player in the political landscape of the region because of his Casamance roots and his vocal criticism of the government’s handling of the issue in Casamance. But his opponents, especially the political ones, have frequently attempted to discredit him by claiming that he is connected to the MFDC without providing any hard proof.

Sonko, who has insisted that his focus is on peaceful and democratic measures to address the difficulties affecting Casamance, has angrily disputed these accusations. The accusations have remained despite his denials, and his opponents have taken use of them to damage his reputation and political status.

It’s crucial to remember that these accusations are still unproven and are commonly perceived as politically driven attempts to malign Sonko rather than sincere worries about his affiliation with the MFDC.