UNCLAS DAKAR 000709

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR PRM, S/ES-O/CMS, AF/RSA AND AF/W
ABIDJAN FOR REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR
ACCRA FOR REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR BLUHM
GENEVA FOR RMA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF CASC EAID MOPS PINS PU SG
SUBJECT: OVER 5,000 DISPLACED BY GUINEA-BISSAU FIGHTING

REF: USDAO DAKAR SG IIR 6 886 0077 06 (DTG 200721Z MAR 06)


1. (SBU) As of midnight on March 17, Senegalese
authorities had registered 2,518 refugees and displaced
persons fleeing the fighting between Bissau-Guinean forces
and Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MFDC)
factions who want peace and Salif Sadio's "Attika" MFDC
forces (reftel). The International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) estimates that another 3,000 persons have
fled to cities in Guinea-Bissau, including Sao Domingos,
where food is reportedly in short supply. Two-thirds of
those are thought to be Senegalese nationals. (COMMENT:
Because MFDC supporters and their families are Senegalese,
one should not necessarily label civilians fleeing the
fighting into Senegal as refugees. END COMMENT.)


2. (U) After a lull over the weekend, the Bissau-Guinean
military resumed firing artillery on March 20. The Bissau-
Guinean Army has reported five dead and at least as many
wounded. MFDC and civilian casualties are unknown at
present.


3. (U) On March 17, Embassy contacted all registered
AmCits in Guinea-Bissau and in Senegal's southern
Casamance region. We continue to monitor the situation
but do not plan to issue a warden message at this time.

JACKSON