Augustin Diamacoune Senghor

Who was Augustin Diamacoune Senghor?

Father Augustin Diamacoune Senghor.

Father Senghor was a charismatic Roman Catholic priest and a leading figure in the Casamance independence movement from Senegal. He served as director of the Saint-Louis of Ziguinchor Seminary from 1972 until 1975.

After spending five years in a Senegalese prison, Senghor became the leader of the Movement of Democratic Forces in Casamance, Casamance's main rebel movement.

Senghor signed a peace agreement with the government of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade in 2004. However, several factions of the MFDC refused to participate in the peace deal and continued their fighting. This division has deeply divided Casamance's independence movement.

Analysts say that the death of Father Senghor may make reaching a permanent peace deal in Casamance much more difficult. The Senegalese government will need to find a new head of the rebel and separatist movement to negotiate with in Senghor's place. However, this will not be easy, as the separatist movement has splintered into rival factions since the 2004 peace agreement. Incidents of violence has also increased in 2006. In late December 2006, the president of the Ziguinchor regional council was assassinated. The Senegalese government blamed Casamance's rebels.