Toubacouta Communique

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Country/entity: Senegal
Casamance
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Toubacouta Communique
Date: 29 Mar 1991
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Senegal-Casamance Conflict (1982 - )
Since 1982, the separatist movement known as the Movement des Forces Democratises de la Casamance (MFDC) has fought the Senegalese Government for independence. Despite a great level of ethnic diversity, 60 per cent of Casamance’s population belong to the Diola and the conflict is often labelled the Affaire Diola by the Senegalese state. Cultural differences include higher proportion of Animist practices, particularly around the regional capital of Ziguinchor, and an egalitarian socio-economic approach. Attempts by the Senegalese government at state-building, first favoured the French and then Wolof languages to the detriment to other national languages - policies that were rejected by the residents of Casamance. Attempts at co-opting regional elites also occurred at the expense of the Diola, due to the lack of hierarchal practices in local culture.

Land grievances emerged following the nationalisation of communally-owned land in 1964. Moreover, a lack of investment, led to problems in the local labour market, particularly following an influx of northerners in to the southern region.
In the early 1980s tensions peaked following student and football protests, leading to a large protest on December 26,1982, and hundreds of arrests. When sentencing commenced the following December, violence increased.
Mediation attempts saw the signing of a ceasefire between the MFDC’s military-wing, Atika, which split into two factions, Front Nord and Front Sud.

The first ceasefire was signed in 1991 with little participation from the broader MFDC and violence erupted again in 1992. A second ceasefire was signed in July 1993 by a more representative group from the MFDC, however, the situation escalated once more four months later following the release of the Chary report, by the French historian Jacques Chary, which dispelled the significance of Casamance’s independent historical governance.
Fighting and human rights abuses increased between 1995-1998 until another peace process began in 1999. However, the conflict remains unsolved and has internationalized to Gineau-Bissau and Gambia.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Casamance process
Parties: -
Third parties: -
Description: A short agreement in which the parties agree to open formal negotiations to end the conflict. Issues covered include prisoner release and the cessation of hostilities.

Agreement document: SE_910329_ToubacoutaCommunique_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): SE_910329_ToubacoutaCommunique_FR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1...The two delegations have reached the following conclusions:
1. The immediate cessation of all MFDC military activities
2. The return to their bases of the armed forces and the security forces
3. The release of all prisoners
4. The opening of negotiations between representatives of the President of the Republic and representatives of the MFDC
5. The MFDC delegation commit to suspend all reprisal measures against traitors, while also demanding an immediate stop to arrests (of their members)
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 2: The return to their bases of the armed forces and the security forces
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 1: The immediate cessation of all MFDC military activities

Page 1, 5: The MFDC delegation commit to suspend all reprisal measures against traitors, while also demanding an immediate stop to arrests (of their members)
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: Page 1...The two delegations have reached the following conclusions:
...
3. The release of all prisoners
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Jean Claude Marut (2010) Le Conflit de Casamance: ce que disent les armes, Paris: Editions Karthala

Toubacouta, 29 March 1991

‘Communique’

On this day, 29 March 1991, a meeting took place between a delegation of government representatives led by Marcel Bassène and comprising Laye Diop Diatta and Oumar Lamine Badji on the one hand, and a delegation from the MFDC, led by Sidy Badji and comprising Leopold Sagna, Maurice Diatta, and Laye Diedhiou on the other hand.

Considering the appeal launched by President Abdou Diouf at New Year,

Considering the severity of the situation in Casamance,

Considering the wish expressed by Abbot Augustin Diamacoune,

Considering the pointless suffering endured by the populations,

The two delegations have reached the following conclusions:

The immediate cessation of all MFDC military activities

The return to their bases of the armed forces and the security forces

The release of all prisoners

The opening of negotiations between representatives of the President of the Republic and representatives of the MFDC

The MFDC delegation commit to suspend all reprisal measures against traitors, while also demanding an immediate stop to arrests (of their members)

The government delegation appreciate the sense of responsibility shown by the MFDC delegation and commit to make the points of this agreement known to the President of the Republic.

Done at Tobacouta on 29 March 1991

For the MFDC:

For the Government:

Sidy Badji

Marcel Bassène

Leopold Sagna

Laye Diop Diatta

Maurice Diatta

O. L Badji