By Mustapha Jarju

The Alkalo of Bwiam village in the Foni Kansala District Pa Sainy Nyassi said, since Sunday on the 13th March 2022, people started coming into his village for refuging from the Gambian border villages around the southern Casamance region, but denied that there was no shell or bullet that landed or fall in his village adding that the relationship between ECOMIG Senegalese soldiers in Bwiam and his villagers is cordial.

“I disaggre with the information that shells or bullets has fall in my village here , no I don’t receive that information . If anyone tell me bullet has landed here I will ask them let search for it because it must be base on evidence and I already gave information to my people that if anyone finds a bullet or shells let them show it “

Bwiam Alkalo said, those Senegalese soldiers fighting in Casamance and the ones in Bwiam are different and their works are different too, is only good relationship between us and them by greeting one another when we meet, and there is not fear or threat in between us and the ECOMIG Senegalese soldiers in Bwiam, the Alkalo attested by Saying, some of the Senegalese soldiers in Bwiam are from Casamance who share the same cultural heritage as the members of his village .

Alkalo Nyassi said, most of the internally displaced persons in his village are about fifty (50) people as at now, adding that most of them are women and children while men decided to remain in their border villages, the women are living in their host compound some of whom are relatives in the village but afraid to return back to their homes as the conflict continues .

Since they came here on Sunday, “breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided by their hosts , because they came here empty handed”, saying compounds which are hosting the internally displaced were registered by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in order to benefit from the government support which is yet to take place .

  1. Most of the internally displaced persons in Bwiam said, they only heard about the government’s million dalaasi support on radio but did not receive it yet as they are relying on their hosts most of whom are their relatives saying they did not received any benefits as a support from government to complement their feeding , bedding and clothing which remain as challenge. He stated that, the process might not be quick as they may expect because government work under procedures .