7 Senegalese soldiers set free after 3 weeks in captivity

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Seven Senegalese soldiers who were taken hostage by rebels during a clash in neighboring Gambia last month were freed on Monday, reported local media.

The soldiers were taken hostage during fighting on Jan.24 with separatist rebels owing allegiance to the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC).

They were released at a ceremony in a rural area near the border with Senegal in Casamance province, in the presence of representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Red Cross, Senegalese Senego newspaper reported.

The head of MFDC Salif Sadio did not attend the ceremony.

Video footage showed the soldiers looking healthy. They arrived at the handover ceremony without handcuffs, surrounded by rebels.

Each of the freed soldiers signed a paper attesting to his release and the document was countersigned by Nigerian Claude Kondor, who represented ECOWAS.

The soldiers reportedly secured their freedom following mediation efforts.

Two Senegalese soldiers were killed during the Jan.24 fighting with the separatist rebels.

The clash occurred in Gambia south of Bwiam on the Kampanti-Kappa-Kambagol axis.

During the clashes, one rebel from MFDC was reportedly killed and three others were captured.

The soldiers were monitoring timber trafficking as part of a multinational force in Gambia, an area bordered on three sides by Senegal.

Formed in 1982, the MFDC has been fighting for independence for Senegal's southern region of Casamance, which borders Gambia.

The Senegalese government blames the group for occasional attacks in breach of a ceasefire declared in 2014. The rebels are believed to get funding from timber trafficking between Senegal and Gambia.