A Country of Defiance: Mapping the Casamance in Senegal

A spatial history of the Casamance conflict in Senegal, tracing the origins of the conflict back to the colonial period and examining the development of a different piece of the still unrealized Casamançais nation. The book reveals a layer of counter-mapping below that of the separatist leaders, with many ordinary Casamançais refusing to tie their culture and landscape to the project of separatism. The conflict has left over five thousand dead, four hundred killed or maimed by land mines, and eight hundred thousand living in a state of insecurity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 07 November 2023
Publisher: Ohio University Press

This book delves into a comprehensive historiographical analysis of human geography and a social history of nationalist separatism and cultural identity in southern Senegal. It explores the origins of the conflict in Casamance, a region located south of The Gambia, tracing its roots back to the early days of colonialism. Mark W. Deets examines the development of various spaces and places that played pivotal roles in shaping the Casamançais nation, including rivers, rice fields, forests, schools, and stadiums. Each chapter delves into the spatial discourse of grievance that transformed these spaces into places, ultimately contributing to the emergence of a separatist nation. However, it is important to note that not all Casamançais identified with these spaces and places in the same way. Many refused to associate their beloved culture and landscape with the separatist project, revealing a layer of counter-mapping beneath the leadership of figures such as Father Augustin Diamacoune Senghor and Mamadou "Nkrumah" Sané.

The Casamance conflict officially commenced on December 26, 1982, following an oath-taking ceremony in a sacred forest near Ziguinchor. Hundreds of separatists from the Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MFDC) marched into the town, intending to replace the Senegalese flag in front of the regional governor's office with a white flag. However, they encountered resistance from gendarmes, who were outnumbered. As a result, government surveillance, arrests, and interrogations ensued, leading to further violence in the following year when gendarmes attempted to disrupt another MFDC meeting in the sacred forest. This time, the separatists responded with a burst of violence, resulting in the deaths of four gendarmes, their bodies mutilated.

The Casamance conflict has had a lasting impact on the region, characterized by ongoing tensions and political instability. The conflict has also contributed to the broader debate about nationalism, identity, and the role of geography in shaping political movements. This book offers valuable insights into the complex history and dynamics of the Casamance region, providing a deeper understanding of the factors that have contributed to the ongoing conflict and its implications for regional and global politics.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821426012