Thirteen youths were killed on Saturday by "armed elements" in the Casamance region of southern Senegal, an area ravaged by armed conflict for more than three decades, a security source said.

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The victims were out collecting wood in the Bayotte forest, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the regional capital Ziguinchor, "when they were attacked by an armed band of 15 people," army spokesman Abdou Ndiaye told AFP.

A source in Ziguinchor said that "thirteen were killed and two were able to escape," with Ndiaye adding that seven others were injured in the attack.

The attackers would have passed the buffer zone separating the positions of the Senegalese army from those of the MFDC (Movement for Democratic Forces in Casamance), the armed independent rebellion," the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) said.

The MFDC, separatist rebels, began fighting for independence in December 1982, but have long ceased their once frequent attacks on the Senegalese army, which retains a visible presence in the area.

"It is too early to say whether the attackers were members of the MFDC, the enquiry will tell us that," said Ndiaye.

The area has been calm for several years since the arrival of President Macky Sall in 2012 and peace talks with the rebels have taken place.

"There had been no tensions lately, no warning signs," the army spokesman said.

The army deployed 150 troops to evacuate the victims and flush out the perpetrators.

The dead bodies were also transported to the morgue at the hospital.

The attack comes a day after two MFDC fighters were released by the army following negotiations launched by Rome's Community of Sant'Egidio, a charity with ties to the Vatican specialising in peace mediation.

On Sunday, President Sall appealed to rebels in Casamance to continue talks to create a "definite peace".

At its height, the rebellion for the independence of Casamance left thousands of civilian and military personnel dead, damaged the economy and forced many residents to flee.

(AFP)</s>DAKAR: Gunmen shot dead 13 people and wounded seven others on Saturday in the forest of Senegal’s southern region of Casamance, the army said.

It was not clear who was responsible for what the motive was for the attack on a group of civilians searching for firewood near the town of Borofaye and about 10 km (six miles) from the Guinea Bissau border, said army spokesman Abdoul Ndiaye.

The area is home to separatist rebels who in 1982 formed what is now one of Africa’s oldest rebellions in their search for independence from northern Senegal.

The Movement of Democratic Forces for Casamance (MFDC) is active in the area of southern Senegal, which is separated from the more affluent north by the Gambia.

The movement has been largely dormant since a ceasefire in 2014. However, many areas remain off-limits because of landmines and arms stockpiles.

President Macky Sall called in his New Year address for dialogue with the rebels and a lasting peace.</s>Gunmen have killed at least 13 people in Senegal as they gathered firewood in the forest, the military said.

Gunmen have killed at least 13 people in Senegal as they gathered firewood in the forest, the military said.

It was the worst attack in years in the West African nation's restive southern region, where a separatist insurgency has dragged on for more than three decades.

The bloodshed sparked fears of renewed unrest in the area, which had been relatively calm for the last few years. Colonel Abdoul Ndiaye said seven other people were wounded in the massacre four miles (seven kilometres) outside the town of Ziguinchor, and the military stepped up its presence near there.

Casamance is separated from the rest of Senegal by the nation of Gambia. While no immediate claim of responsibility was made, suspicion fell on the separatist group founded in 1982 known as the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance.

The armed wing of the group had agreed a ceasefire in 2014, and the last major attack blamed on the group was in 2013 when rebels took 12 employees of a South African bomb disposal firm hostage. The victims, all Senegalese citizens, were eventually released.

Saturday's deaths came just hours after the release of two prisoners belonging to the separatist group following negotiations that were mediated by the Community of Sant'Egidio. The separatists have long argued that their region is culturally distinct from the rest of Senegal and has suffered from inattentive governments in the country's capital, Dakar.</s>DAKAR, Senegal — Gunmen in Senegal on Saturday killed at least 13 people who were gathering firewood in the forest, the military said. It was the worst attack in years in the restive Casamance region in the country’s south, where a separatist insurgency has dragged on for more than three decades.

The deaths led to fears of renewed unrest in the area, which had been relatively calm for the last several years.

Col. Abdoul Ndiaye said late Saturday that seven others were wounded in the attack, which happened four miles outside the town of Ziguinchor. The military said it had stepped up its presence near the town.

Casamance is separated from the rest of Senegal by the nation of Gambia.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance, a separatist group that operates in the region, began fighting for independence in 1982.

The armed wing of the group agreed to a cease-fire in 2014, and the last major attack blamed on the group was in 2013 when rebels took 12 employees of a South African bomb disposal firm hostage. The victims, all Senegalese citizens, were eventually released.

Saturday’s deaths came just hours after the release of two prisoners belonging to the separatist group, following negotiations that were mediated by the Community of Sant’Egidio.</s>DAKAR, Senegal — Gunmen killed at least 13 people Saturday in Senegal who were gathering firewood in the forest, the military said. It was the worst attack in years in the West African nation’s restive southern region, where a separatist insurgency has dragged on for more than three decades.

The bloodshed sparked fears of renewed unrest in the area, which had been relatively calm for the last several years.

Col. Abdoul Ndiaye said late Saturday that seven others were wounded in the massacre 4 miles (7 kilometres) outside of the town of Ziguinchor, and the military stepped up its presence near the town. Casamance is separated from the rest of Senegal by the nation of Gambia.

While no immediate claim of responsibility for the slayings was made, suspicion fell on the separatist group founded in 1982 known as the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance.

The armed wing of the group had agreed to a cease-fire in 2014, and the last major attack blamed on the group had been in 2013 when rebels took 12 employees of a South African bomb disposal firm hostage. The victims, all Senegalese citizens, were eventually released.

Saturday’s deaths came just hours after the release of two prisoners belonging to the separatist group following negotiations that were mediated by the Community of Sant’Egidio.

The separatists have long argued that their region is culturally distinct from the rest of Senegal, and has suffered from inattentive governments in the country’s capital, Dakar.

Associated Press writer Mamadou Alpha Diallo in Ziguinchor, Senegal, contributed to this report.</s>DAKAR, Senegal -- The Senegalese military says 13 people have been killed by armed gunmen in the country's southern Casamance region. The bloodshed confirmed late Saturday by Col. Abdoul Ndiaye was the worst in years and immediately sparked fears of renewed unrest in the south, where separatists have sought independence for more than 30 years in the West African nation.

Despite the presence of separatists, Casamance had been relatively calm since 2012.

Ndiaye said the victims had been searching for firewood just outside the town of Ziguinchor. Their deaths came hours after the release of two prisoners belonging to the separatist group known as the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC).

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the slayings, suspicion fell on the separatist group.

BBC News reports that Casamance has seen a long-running conflict between the government and the MFDC rebel group, which wants independence. The Senegalese military said the attack may be connected to the release of two members of the group from custody.</s>DAKAR, Senegal - Gunmen killed at least 13 people Saturday in Senegal who were gathering firewood in the forest, the military said. It was the worst attack in years in the West African nation's restive southern region, where a separatist insurgency has dragged on for more than three decades.

The bloodshed sparked fears of renewed unrest in the area, which had been relatively calm for the last several years.

Col. Abdoul Ndiaye said late Saturday that seven others were wounded in the massacre 4 miles outside of the town of Ziguinchor, and the military stepped up its presence near the town. Casamance is separated from the rest of Senegal by the nation of Gambia.

While no immediate claim of responsibility for the slayings was made, suspicion fell on the separatist group founded in 1982 known as the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance.

The armed wing of the group had agreed to a cease-fire in 2014.

Saturday's deaths came just hours after the release of two prisoners belonging to the separatist group following negotiations that were mediated by the Community of Sant'Egidio.</s>DAKAR, Senegal — The Senegalese military says 13 people have been killed by armed gunmen in the country's southern Casamance region.

The bloodshed confirmed late Saturday by Col. Abdoul Ndiaye was the worst in years and immediately sparked fears of renewed unrest in the south, where separatists have sought independence for more than 30 years in the West African nation.

Despite the presence of separatists, Casamance had been relatively calm since 2012.

Ndiaye said the victims had been searching for firewood just outside the town of Ziguinchor. Their deaths came hours after the release of two prisoners belonging to the separatist group known as the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the slayings, suspicion fell on the separatist group.</s>Ziguinchor, Jan 8 (AFP) The Senegalese government vowed today to be "relentless" in tracking down and bringing to justice those responsible for the execution of 13 people in the southern region of Casamance.

Gunmen ordered a group of men and youths, out looking for wood, to lie on the ground deep in the forest before opening fire, a survivor said following the first upsurge in violence in the isolated Senegalese region in years.

President Macky Sall, condemning an "armed attack of rare barbarity", summoned his national security council and ordered a ministerial delegation to the scene.

"A hard and relentless hunt will be conducted to find the perpetrators of this despicable act," interior minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye told Senegalese press agency APS during a visit to survivors at the hospital in Ziguinchor, the region's capital.

The attack happened yesterday in Borofaye forest in the commune of Boutoupa-Camaracounda.

According to the government, ten of the 13 killed were shot dead, two were stabbed to death and one was burned. Half a dozen more were wounded, with the most seriously hurt being transferred to Dakar for treatment.

The as yet unidentified group stopped the young men and rounded them up before shooting them coldly, survivors told AFP.

"They made us lie face down and started firing," a 45- year-old father of two with two wives said today at Ziguinchor Ayib Ly hospital as he received treatment for injuries to his back and foot.

"Injured people trying to escape were finished off" by the attackers, said another survivor, Amadou Diallo.

Ibrahima Daffe, described being hit by "two bullets in the back", fired by men "in military uniforms", wearing "rangers" type boots and speaking the local language.

A source in Ziguinchor said 13 youths were killed, while army spokesman Abdou Ndiaye told AFP seven others were injured.

The Senegalese Press Agency said the assailants would have passed a buffer zone between the Senegalese army and separatist rebels of the Movement for Democratic Forces in Casamance (MFDC).

Abdoulaye Balde, a former armed forces minister and deputy mayor of Ziguinchor, told AFP those responsible were likely "not fully associated with the peace process" in a region where rebels began fighting in December 1982 -- though they have long ceased attacks on soldiers. (AFP) AQS .

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.</s>The Senegalese government vowed Sunday to be “relentless” in tracking down and bringing to justice those responsible for the execution of 13 people in the southern region of Casamance.

Gunmen ordered a group of men and youths, out looking for wood, to lie on the ground deep in the forest before opening fire, a survivor said following the first upsurge in violence in the isolated Senegalese region in years.

President Macky Sall, condemning an “armed attack of rare barbarity”, summoned his national security council and ordered a ministerial delegation to the scene.

“A hard and relentless hunt will be conducted to find the perpetrators of this despicable act,” interior minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye told Senegalese press agency APS during a visit to survivors at the hospital in Ziguinchor, the region’s capital.

The attack happened on Saturday in Borofaye forest in the commune of Boutoupa-Camaracounda.

According to the government, ten of the 13 killed were shot dead, two were stabbed to death and one was burned. Half a dozen more were wounded, with the most seriously hurt being transferred to Dakar for treatment.

The as yet unidentified group stopped the young men and rounded them up before shooting them coldly, survivors told AFP.

“They made us lie face down and started firing,” a 45-year-old father of two with two wives said Sunday at Ziguinchor Ayib Ly hospital as he received treatment for injuries to his back and foot.

“Injured people trying to escape were finished off” by the attackers, said another survivor, Amadou Diallo.

Ibrahima Daffe, described being hit by “two bullets in the back”, fired by men “in military uniforms”, wearing “rangers” type boots and speaking the local language.

A source in Ziguinchor said 13 youths were killed, while army spokesman Abdou Ndiaye told AFP seven others were injured.

The Senegalese Press Agency said the assailants would have passed a buffer zone between the Senegalese army and separatist rebels of the Movement for Democratic Forces in Casamance (MFDC).

Abdoulaye Balde, a former armed forces minister and deputy mayor of Ziguinchor, told AFP those responsible were likely “not fully associated with the peace process” in a region where rebels began fighting in December 1982 — though they have long ceased attacks on soldiers.

“When you negotiate with the main (MFDC) leaders, dissidents are often not involved,” said Balde, who called the attack a surprise while noting that “we knew peace was precarious” in the tense region.

Sall has “ordered that the perpetrators of this criminal act be found and brought to justice,” the government statement said, adding that the ministerial delegation would “evaluate the security situation and offer the nation’s condolences to the families”.

The army deployed 150 troops to evacuate the victims and flush out the attackers, and a resident of the nearby village of Bourafaye Bainuk said shots were heard as the army undertook a “deep search”.

Casamance, separated from the rest of Senegal by The Gambia, has been calm for several years since Sall took power in 2012, though peace talks have failed to yield a definitive settlement.

Ziguinchor governor Guedj Diouf said he thought the attack would not derail the peace process. “There’s an irreversible dynamic in the direction of peace,” Diouf said in remarks carried by the news website PressAfrik.

Former colonial power France, whose tourists visit other areas of Senegal in droves, removed Casamance from its list of danger zones in October 2016.

The attack came a day after the army released two MFDC fighters following negotiations spearheaded by Rome’s Community of Sant’Egidio, a charity with ties to the Vatican specialising in peace mediation.

The Casamance separatist movement left thousands of civilians and military personnel dead and forced many to flee over three decades, as well as hurting the economy dependent on agriculture and tourism.

In a New Year’s message last Sunday, Sall appealed to the Casamance rebels to continue talks to create a “definite peace”. AFP / SAMAA
Gunmen kill 13 people near the town of Ziguinchor, Senegal.