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2010-12-16 Africa Subsaharan

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Posted by Fred 2010-12-16 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iran

#1 Senegalese analysts have said the arms may have been bound for Senegal's restive southern Casamance region, where rebels have waged a low-level uprising against the government since 1983.

Part of the shipment perhaps. I suspect most if not all of the arms were bound for Gambia, for further shipment to Mali.

Posted by Pappy 2010-12-16 07:54|| 2010-12-16 07:54|| Front Page Top

#2 If you look at the map of Senegal, you will see that the Senegal River is the first navigable waterway south of the Sahara. The French glommed this river valley as an entry to the interior. Britain glommed the Gambia River valley, which is the next good-sized waterway south. The Casamance River valley is the third navigable river.

Between the Senegal and Gambia rivers, the country is dry and hot and not much grows there except goats, scrubland, and peanuts. The Gambia marks the beginning of the arable land, and the Casamance feeds most of Senegal.

The desert part of Senegal is mostly Muslim, with a heavy dollop of folk religion. The Marabouts combine the spiritual authority of an imam with the local authority of a shaman. The Casamance peoples have mostly folk religion, with a number of Catholics and a handful of Evangelicals.

Not surprisingly, the Senegalese govt (whose president is 86, going senile, and cozying up to the North Koreans) is making life difficult for the folks in the Casamance for tribal, religious, and other irrational causes. This explains why the Casamance is "restive".

Posted by mom 2010-12-16 10:23|| 2010-12-16 10:23|| Front Page Top

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