Is Casamance Dangerous in 2026? What Has Changed

Casamance is not generally dangerous for a careful traveller in 2026, as long as you stick to the coast and the main roads. According to France Diplomatie, the tourist area of Cap Skirring presents no particular danger. The real risks are concentrated in the border strips and the forests, far from the usual routes. A peace agreement signed in February 2025 changed the situation, without definitively closing West Africa's oldest armed conflict. Here, with neither alarmism nor complacency, is what you really need to know before you go.

A conflict more than 40 years old

The Casamance conflict began on 26 December 1982, with a pro-independence march in Ziguinchor. It is the oldest armed conflict in West Africa. It pits the Senegalese state against the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), which demands independence for this southern region, cut off from the rest of the country by Gambia.

This is a low-intensity insurgency, not an open war. The clashes have always been sporadic and localised. The human toll remains hard to pin down precisely: estimates range between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths over more than four decades, on top of tens of thousands of displaced people.

Over time, the MFDC splintered into several rival factions. This division complicates any resolution, because no single agreement can bind all the armed groups at once. It is a key point for understanding the current situation.

What the 2025 peace agreement changed

A peace agreement was signed on 23 February 2025 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. It brought together the Senegalese state, represented by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and the MFDC-Front Sud, the faction led by César Atoute Badiate. It is a major step forward for a region scarred for so long.

The agreement provides for a ceasefire in southern Casamance, the demobilisation of fighters, their reintegration, and the return of displaced populations. It is part of the "Diomaye Plan for Casamance" launched in January 2025, and extends the ceasefire already reached on 4 August 2022.

One nuance remains essential: the agreement does not cover the entire MFDC. The Front Nord, linked to Salif Sadio and active near the Gambian border, is not a signatory. The conflict is therefore not formally over, and several experts urge caution. Peace is advancing, but it remains partial.

What France Diplomatie says in 2026

In its March 2026 update, France Diplomatie classifies the Casamance-Gambia and Casamance-Guinea-Bissau border strips as orange: advised against except for imperative reasons, away from the main roads. Access to the forests, especially the classified forests, is also advised against. But this classification does not apply to the whole region.

The area bounded by the coastline, the Ziguinchor-Cap Skirring road, and the Casamance River remains accessible. France Diplomatie notes that the hotel zone of Cap Skirring "presents no particular danger". The rest of the region calls for heightened vigilance, classified yellow, while staying on the main roads.

In practice, almost all of Casamance's tourist sites lie within the accessible zone. Before any trip, check the travel advice (France Diplomatie), as these classifications can change.

The real residual risk: landmines

The most concrete danger today is not fighting, but the anti-personnel mines left behind by the conflict. An estimated 1.2 million square metres are still suspected of being contaminated, spread across dozens of dangerous zones, mainly east of Ziguinchor, around localities such as Djibanar or Niagha.

Demining is progressing. A UNDP (PNUD) project, funded by India, was launched on 20 May 2025 in Ziguinchor. The goal is to gradually secure the land so that residents can return and farming can resume.

For a traveller, the risk is almost nil as long as you follow one simple rule: stay on the roads and the marked trails. The danger lies in the forests, the abandoned fields, and the isolated tracks. Never leave the well-travelled paths. That is the single most important precaution.

Where to go without worry (and where not to)

Most of Casamance's must-sees can be visited in complete calm. Tourism is picking up again precisely because the coast is safe. Here is how to tell the accessible areas from the ones best left alone.

Safe areas for travellers:

• Cap Skirring and its beaches, with no particular danger according to France Diplomatie
• Ziguinchor, the regional capital, with normal urban precautions
• Cabrousse and Oussouye, authentic villages in the south
• The island of Carabane, at the mouth of the Casamance River
• Kafountine, while staying on the main roads

Areas to avoid at all costs:

• The border strips with Guinea-Bissau, south of Ziguinchor, away from the main roads
• The border strips with Gambia, away from the main roads
• The forests, and the classified forests in particular
• Isolated tracks and unmarked paths
• Any travel at night

How to get there safely

The simplest and safest option is still to fly. The direct Dakar-Cap Skirring flight takes about 50 minutes and drops you in the heart of the tourist area, without crossing any sensitive sector. It is the recommended choice for a first trip.

The Aline Sitoé Diatta boat connects Dakar to Ziguinchor in around 15 hours, with two sailings a week. It is a popular alternative for the scenery and the atmosphere, but technical stops are frequent. The service resumed on 19 August 2025 after a two-month interruption.

The road is possible via the main routes, notably the Trans-Gambia Highway. Only one instruction here: travel by day only and never stray from the main roads. Night journeys should be ruled out, whatever the means of transport.

Our practical tips for 2026

A few simple rules are enough to enjoy Casamance with peace of mind. They come down to a handful of reflexes that any traveller can easily adopt.

• Always travel by day and stay on the main roads
• Never leave the marked trails, especially near the forests
• Avoid the border strips with Gambia and Guinea-Bissau
• Check France Diplomatie before you leave and register on the Ariane portal
• Take out insurance with repatriation cover: heavy-duty medical facilities are in Dakar
• Favour flying into Cap Skirring for direct, safe access

Frequently asked questions

Is Casamance dangerous in 2026?

No, not for a careful traveller who stays on the coast and the main roads. The Cap Skirring area presents no particular danger according to France Diplomatie. The risks are limited to the border strips and the forests, away from the usual tourist routes.

Was the peace agreement really signed?

Yes. A peace agreement was signed on 23 February 2025 in Bissau, between the Senegalese state and the MFDC-Front Sud. It provides for a ceasefire, demobilisation, and the return of displaced people. But the Front Nord did not sign: peace therefore remains partial.

Is Cap Skirring safe?

Yes. France Diplomatie states that the hotel zone of Cap Skirring "presents no particular danger". It is the simplest and safest destination in Casamance, reachable by a direct flight from Dakar in about fifty minutes.

Are there still landmines in Casamance?

Yes, anti-personnel mines remain, mainly east of Ziguinchor: an estimated 1.2 million square metres are still suspected of being contaminated. Demining backed by the UNDP (PNUD) was launched in May 2025. The risk is almost nil if you stay on the roads and the marked trails.

Is it better to fly or drive?

Flying is preferable. The Dakar-Cap Skirring flight takes about 50 minutes and avoids any sensitive sector. The road via the main routes is still possible, but by day only. The Aline Sitoé Diatta boat offers a third, longer option, with two sailings a week.

Is the Casamance conflict over?

Not formally. The 2025 agreement pushed back the violence in the south, but the Front Nord, linked to Salif Sadio, did not sign it. This conflict, which began in 1982, remains the oldest in West Africa. The situation is improving, without being fully resolved.