David Hecht reports that an obscure civil war in the west African nation of Senegal has escalated in recent months. Rebels are fighting for independence in the southern province of Casamance; an upsurge in fighting since last summer has left hundreds dead. There is resentment in the Casamance that Senegal's central government is neglecting the region; the rebels also have a unique justification for their fight: they claim Senegal has no right to rule the Casamance because it still belongs to former colonial power France.
Copyright 1997 NPR
