Casamance

Casamance is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. It consists of Basse Casamance (Ziguinchor Region) and Haute Casamance (Kolda Region). Ziguinchor is its largest town.

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Low-lying and hot, with some hills to the southeast, the economy of the Casamance relies largely on rice cultivation and tourism. It also has excellent beaches along its coastline, particularly at Cap Skirring.

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The Diola are the dominant ethnic group in the Casamance, though they are economically disadvantaged as a whole in Senegal. Their economic condition has contributed to a separatist movement for the independence or autonomy of the Casamance, Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) . The Casamance Conflict has, at times, lead to violent confrontations with Senegalese forces and killings for decades at the end of the 20th century.

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The Casamance was subject to both French and Portuguese colonial efforts before a border was negotiated between the French colony of Senegal and Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau) to the south.

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The Casamance has average rainfall greater than the rest of Senegal.

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The Gambia: The Republic of The Gambia is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within the African continent and is entirely surrounded by Senegal, with the Gambia River emptying into the Atlantic Ocean in its center. In 1965, The Gambia became independent from the British Empire. Banjul is its c...

Casamance River: The Casamance River is a river that flows west between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau and into the Atlantic Ocean along a path about 200 miles (320 km) in length. However, only 80 miles (130 km) of it are navigable....

Ziguinchor Region: Ziguinchor is a region of Senegal (regional capitals have the same name as their respective regions). The region is also refered to historically and popularly as Basse Casamance....