Senegal which engulfs its smaller neighbour, Gambia, entirely, except at the end of the Atlantic Ocean, has been battling with separatist rebel fighters of the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC) in the South of the country, who has been seeking independence for close to two and half decades.

There have been claims by people both within and outside the Gambia, including dissident former Gambian military officers, that President Yahya Jammeh has been given some form of support to the Senegalese rebels. On a number of occasions, MFDC rebels have been spotted in a region in the Gambia bordering Senegal, allegedly seeking refugee away from Senegalese troops.

The Gambian leader broke a long silence on the matter, Tuesday, when he told the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) that a resolution can not be possible for the conflict through military means, and urged the two sides to negotiate.

"I want to urge the Senegalese and the MFDC to observe with immediate effect, an unconditional and immediate ceasefire and go to the negotiation table," Jammeh told state owned GRTS. He added that the conflict has only brought poverty and untold suffering for the people of the region.

The MFDC rebels are on record of having gone in to truce with the Senegalese government only for fighting to resurge. Earlier this month, for instance, six Senegalese soldiers were killed and three more were wounded when their convoy was attacked by alleged former rebels from the separatist MFDC.

The rebels are also known for attacking villages only to loot and terrorize their inhabitants and retreat to bases in neighboring countries.