Serrekunda — Information reaching Foroyaa, recently, has disclosed that clashes have taken place between the Senegalese Army and unidentified armed groups in the southern region of the country (Casamance). Residents in the area believe that the two factions are fighting in the region, causing many people to flee their homes.

However when this reporter visited some areas where the recent fighting is said to have taken place, villagers told him that there were some attacks by the insurgents on passengers and drivers plying the roads, forcing them to surrender their monies, mobile phones or other belongings to the insurgents. Two groups are engaged in armed clashes in areas near Kujubeh and Jululung.

The villagers also reported that a driver, who was transporting ice blocks at the time, was also killed by an armed group after he refused to stop when they ordered him to do so. They also said that the armed men a cut off the nose of the driver after killing him.

This reporter was also informed that in a separate development two apprentices were also killed by an armed group after their driver refused to stop when the armed group demanded him to stop. The explanation given was that the driver who was carrying goods such as sugar, rice and other commodities escaped from them but the goods he was carrying were taken away by them. According to the villagers, the Senegalese army in the area visited the place but found that the armed group had already left. All these incidents, according to the residents in the area, happened in the bush between Jululung and Kafunting.

This reporter was also informed that an armed group attacked some soldiers who were out on a mission they would not disclose. According to the villagers, the vehicle carrying the soldiers got stuck up in the mud on the road and that as they were trying to remove the vehicle from the mud the attackers opened fire on them killing about seven(7) soldiers. This incident was reported to have happened around Nyasia village. All these incidents were said to have occurred during this month of October and which alarmed the villagers.

The villagers explained that they did not flee their homes despite the recent happenings because all the incidents happened in the bush. They also explained to this reporter that everything has now calmed down and they are all going about their normal business as usual. There seemed be free movement of people, as soldiers in Tonba only asked for identity cards and allow passengers vehicles to pass.

Talking to residents of both Dimbayaa and Dasilameh in Kombo Central, which are two border villages, it was revealed that there has been no new influx of refugees fleeing the recent clashes in Casamance; that on the contrary, people are moving freely across the border.