24 people have been arrested and charged by Senegalese police with a deadly shooting attack that happened in southern Casamance region earlier this month. 14 villagers were killed in the incident.
Gunmen attacked a group of civilians who were searching for firewood in a forest on January 6 near the town of Borofaye, about 10 km (six miles) from the Guinea Bissau border. Seven other people villagers were wounded in the attack, Reuters reports.
The area is known to be home to separatist rebels who formed the movement of Democratic Forces for Casamance (MFDC) IN 1982. The movement is now Africa’s oldest rebellion fighting for independence.
One member of MDFC who is believed to have been the mastermind behind the operation was among those arrested, Abdoulaye Sylla, a prosecutor in the provincial capital Ziguinchor said.
Sylla said the 24 were charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and possession of unlicensed weapons.
