Senegal
On his last stop in Africa, the president is expected to focus on U.S. relations with Africa more broadly and the African Crisis Response Initiative. Senegal's elected president, Abou Diouf, has been in power since 1981, and the country's armed forces have a reputation for being professional and generally disciplined. However, renewed fighting in the Casamance area of the country between the government and the secessionist Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has taken a heavy toll on civilians. Both the Senegalese army and the MFDC rebel forces reportedly were responsible for killings, disappearances, and torture.
Question: How can the U.S. be sure that troops involved in human rights abuses in Casamance will not participate in the African crisis response troops?
[ Human Rights Watch Home Page ]
[Clinton Africa Trip, March 1998]