Senegalese soldiers have clashed with the MFDC rebels at The Gambia-Senegal border around Ballen village in Foni Kansala.

At least two soldiers and a rebel are confirmed death, but the number of casualties could be more than that, Senegalese local media report.

MFDC led by 70-year-old Salif Sadio have been fighting for an independent state in Casamance for decades.

Residents of Gambia border said the fighting broke out after the soldiers who are on Ecowas mission in The Gambia chased off a truck load of timber logs into the rebels territory in Casamance.

This triggered a shootout between the soldiers and rebels that continued for hours forcing many Gambian village residents at the border to flee for their lives.

There is no statement yet from the Ecowas mission in The Gambia about the incident.

Modou Faal Bojang, the Alkalo of Kampant village in Foni said: “the incident started around 10am to 11am on 

Monday 24th January 2022, when a truck loaded with lugs came from Casamance was chase by the ECOMIC Forces in to the Cassamance region which the fight between the ECOMIG forces and the rebels around the border village of Ballen in The Gambia.”

“The military chase a vehicle that wants to take the Senegambia Road and meet with the ECOWAS Senegalese soldiers and the truck driver turned immediately and run into Casamance, and the Senegalese soldiers followed them in Casamance shortly we heard gun shots coming from the border,” he said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba