SUMMARY

MFDC - FN (Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance – Front Nord, Movement of the Democratic Forces of the Casamance – Northern Front) was the creation of the first split in the rebel movement, which continued to be the main historical division in the rebel camp. For more information about the main MFDC group and the background to its formation, see the actor description for MFDC.

MFDC launched its armed struggle in 1990 and after only a year of fighting the first cracks started to appear in the group. Sidy Badji, then leader of MFDC’s armed wing signed a ceasefire with the government in May 1991, creating tensions within the movement. In April 1992 he signed the Cacheu accords in an effort to consolidate the truce. Abbé Diamacoune, leader of the political wing of the group, denounced the accords for not resolving the fundamental question of Casamance’s political status, whereby Badji and his followers left the movement, regrouped and were subsequently known as Front Nord, due to the group’s original area of military operation, north of the Casamance River.

While the main MFDC group continued the armed struggle against the government, Front Nord under Badji retired from active combat in informal exchange for which they were allowed to retain de facto control of much of the northwest of the Bignona departments in Casamance. The group subsequently survived by operating business activities including the supply of timber, palm-oil, rhun-palm, palm-wine and cannabis to the Gambian market with complete impunity. In 2001 and 2002 fighting between MFDC – Front Nord and the government resumed temporarily as the army, when attacking the rival faction MFDC (S), also managed to re-establish itself in parts of the territory controlled by Front Nord.

Over the years there have been repeated allegations of close ties between MFDC’s Front Nord and neighbouring Gambia. A Diola, like the rebels, Gambian president Yahya Jammeh is said to have integrated whole rebel platoons that only obey his orders into the Gambian army. Furthermore, Front Nord allegedly made up his presidential guard at his residence in Kaninlai, just two kilometres across the border. Reports have it that in exchange the faction received supplies like medicines and arms.

MFDC – Front Nord was led by Sidy Badji until 2003, when he died of cancer and was replaced by Souaïbou Kamougué Diatta. The same year a splinter group left the movement, as Magne Diémé, a Front Nord commander traditionally regarded as more moderate, broke away with a large number of followers, creating the splinter group MFDC – Front Nord (D).

MFDC – Front Nord has been involved in the one-sided category of UCDP organised violence.