The Senegalese government has signed a peace deal with rebels from the countrys southern province of Casamance - which could bring about an end to a decades-long conflict. The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) has pledged to lay down its arms and work towards a permanent solution. The Senegalese President, Macky Sall, welcomed the agreement and thanked the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, for mediating. A separatist insurgency by the MFDC has resulted in several thousand deaths since 1982, although the conflict was mostly dormant until Senegal launched a major offensive last year to drive out the rebels.
