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By Assan Sallah.
At least seven (7) Senegalese soldiers have been arrested and are held hostage by the MFDC rebels in the Casamance region of Senegal. The soldiers were captured during a clash with the ECOMIG forces at Ballen village, Foni Kansala District of the West Coast Region.
Security sources confirmed the arrest of Senegalese soldiers and the killing of two (2) soldiers serving under the ECOMIG mission. One of the alleged attackers was also confirmed dead.
“I can confirm that the rebels have captured at least 7 Senegalese soldiers and some were killed during the fight,“ one of the sources who wished to remain anonymous revealed.
“The ECOMIG forces were on patrol on Monday evening around Ballen village near the border and they came across the rebels who were reported to be trafficking timber in the area. Suddenly, there was an exchange of gunfire, which led to the death of two soldiers and one from the rebel group,“ said a source.
The Senegalese military has launched an operation to search for the captured soldiers in Casamance.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the ECOMIG forces Major Alfred Marteye proved futile as he didn’t pick up his phone calls.
The Digest News will keep readers posted on the new developments in this case.