President Wade is seeking peace for Casamance

Cut off from the rest of Senegal by the Gambia, Casamance is still caught up in a 20 year old civil war whose origins go back well into the colonial era.

Like his predecessors Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade has devoted considerable time and energy to the problems in Casamance.

Greviances

Mr Wade has worked hard to consolidate a dialogue with the MFDC which has lobbied and fought for a separate state in the south.

Mr Wade has made it clear that separatism is not an option but that there are also legitimate grievances which need to be addressed.

The MFDC leader Adde Diamacoune Senghor has repeatedly committed himself to peace while toning down the separatist rhetoric.

Mr Diamacoune's problem is that he cannot carry all of his movement with him.

The MDFC now appears to be badly split with one of Mr Diamacoune's rivals Salif Sadio emerging with his own power base intent on continuing the armed struggle.

The government has effectively declared Salif Sadio a public enemy, issuing an international warrant for his arrest and offering the equivalent of $200,000 for this capture.