Casamance has been a troubled region for some 24 or so years. The 'rebels' dispute the claim over the region by Northern Senegal and Dakar. The situation is now calm and tourists and citizens are relatively safe. There is an ongoing dialogue betwen the rebels and the government, facilitated by a body of mediators. This can be a little heated at times (a member of the mediation team was recently killed by the rebels after being suspected of pocketing cash intended for them) but the feeling is that everyone else is safe.