The U.S. Government is supporting the Government of Senegal’s efforts to resettle people returning to their villages after being displaced by the Casamance conflict. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Democracy, Rights and Governance program is providing 7 million FCFA of essential items to ensure the health and safety of residents returning to Bissine, and citizens of Singhere Diola relocating to Kaour for security reasons. The distributed items include food kits and basic materials for the construction of temporary shelters.

The support, funded through USAID’s Aliwili II and Saabuñinmaa activities, is designed to meet a request from M. Guedj Diouf, the Governor of Ziguinchor, made to the U.S. Ambassador Mushingi asking the United States to help assist people resettling in areas the Senegalese army recently recovered.

The contribution includes a mini borehole, handwashing stations, 5 tons of rice, 20 packs of soap, 200kg of sugar, 10 cartons of bleach, 200 litres of oil; buckets, basins, mattresses, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and ventilated latrine superstructure; cutters, shovels, spades, pickaxes, rakes; tarpaulin for shelters and transportation. It will help 112 displaced households resettling in Bissine village, Adeane commune, and 19 households originally from Singhère Diola, Kaour commune, who have now relocated to nearby Kaour. USAID/Aliwili II and USAID/Saabuñinmaa, are implemented respectively by Catholic Relief Services and Union Regionale Santa Yalla.

According to the Coordinator of the Consultation Committee for the Return of Displaced Villages, Malamine Diedhiou, there are 14 displaced villages, including Singhère Diola, which is part of the district of Djibanar, commune of Kaour, and 13 others in the district of Niaguis, including Bissine.

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. State Department’s Bureau for Migration and Refugee Populations (BMRP), also provided emergency assistance last month (July 2020) through Shelter for Life, which has been supporting the resettlement of returnees for the past three years in partnership with Catholic Relief Services. Shelter for Life provided 300 square metres of  tarpaulin to cover houses, along with 40 slats of palm trees and 10 cartons of termite repellent to recent returnees.

The United States has been a long-term supporter of peace-building initiatives in the   Casamance. In the 2000s, USAID developed a special Casamance program that ran through 2006. Then, in 2010, it began to implement multi-sectoral programs in economic growth, education, health, and governance.

USAID provided communities previously in conflict with lasting tools that they can use to realize win-win solutions to disputes instead of resorting to violence. Investments continue to reap results even after projects end.

USAID continues to work with the people of Casamance to promote a lasting peace. The American people’s investment in peace in the Casamance is an example of the positive and enduring U.S. - Senegal relationship.