Casamance: The Women's Platform for Peace calls for strengthening the empowerment of returning displaced women

The Women's Platform for Peace in Casamance dedicated a significant day of discussions and advocacy to returning displaced women on Monday, September 29, as part of the celebration of the International Day of Peace, commemorated annually on September 21. Through this initiative, the organization aimed to highlight the realities faced by these women who, after years of forced exile due to the Casamance conflict, have returned to their home villages hoping to rebuild their lives.

This meeting brought together women from several villages in the regions of Ziguinchor, Sédhiou and Kolda, as well as technical and financial partners, administrative authorities and community actors committed to peacebuilding and development in Casamance.

Speaking on behalf of the Women's Platform for Peace in Casamance, its vice-president, Léonie Gomis, explained that the choice to place returning displaced women at the heart of this celebration reflects a reality that is often overlooked. According to her, these women experience a double rupture: first, the forced displacement, and then the return to villages they had been forced to leave, sometimes for several years.

"When you move, you experience uprooting. And when you return, you experience yet another displacement because you had ended up putting down roots elsewhere before returning to an environment that you had left because of insecurity," she said.

According to the platform's director, women's economic empowerment is currently one of the most effective ways to ensure the sustainable reintegration of displaced populations and strengthen community stability. She believes that women remain the key players in family resilience in conflict-affected areas.

“Women are the ones who hold families together. By empowering a woman, the whole family is strengthened. By strengthening families, the whole community moves towards development,” she argued.

To better understand the challenges faced by returning populations, the Women's Platform for Peace in Casamance conducted two studies in several localities within the region. The first focused on villages in the departments of Ziguinchor, Oussouye, and Goudomp, while the second covered several villages in the department of Bignona.

According to Léonie Gomis, these studies made it possible to directly engage with the affected populations to gather their concerns and identify their priority needs. This approach should serve as the basis for guiding support programs for the affected communities.

As a prelude to this meeting, the platform organized a mini-forum for returnees, bringing together women from different localities in Casamance. This activity provided a framework for dialogue between the beneficiaries, technical and financial partners, and several experienced Economic Interest Groups (EIGs) from the Ziguinchor region.

The participants shared their experiences, challenges, and successes in agriculture, food processing, trade, and women's entrepreneurship. A market for returning women was also organized to allow them to showcase and sell their products.

While commending the initiatives undertaken to facilitate the return of displaced populations, the platform's vice-president emphasized the need to intensify support for communities. She specifically mentioned the Diomaye Plan for Casamance, which she considers a promising initiative for the population, while also advocating for better dissemination of information about this program.

"It's a good plan, but many people are not yet sufficiently aware of it. We would like to see more concrete actions and better communication so that the beneficiaries can fully benefit from it," she said.

Representing the Minister of Family and Solidarity, Ndeye Gnilane Faye Sarr, director of the National Center for Assistance and Training for Women, praised the relevance of the theme chosen by the women of Casamance.

She noted that while the international theme of the Day of Peace this year focuses on peace, dignity and equality, the organizers have chosen to adapt this celebration to their specific context through the theme: "Empowerment, restored dignity: a successful return for displaced persons from Casamance".

According to her, this initiative gives a voice to the affected populations so that their concerns are better addressed by the government and development partners. She also reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to supporting women, youth, and vulnerable communities through economic empowerment, education, and training programs.

Through this celebration on September 29th, the Women's Platform for Peace in Casamance reaffirmed its commitment to a lasting peace based on social justice, development, and women's empowerment. For the organizers, the successful return of displaced populations can only be achieved if women have the necessary resources to rebuild their lives, support their families, and fully contribute to the economic and social development of Casamance.