Internal Conflicts and Autonomy Struggles in Pakistan, Myanmar, and Senegal

Balochistan is the home of the Baloch ethnic minority, who claim to be discriminated against and exploited by the central government. The province has seen several recent deadly attacks by separatists, and there is a growing movement calling for independence. Additionally, Islamist militants are active in the area. The most prominent group in Balochistan is the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, which both Pakistan and the United States have designated as a terrorist organization. It is opposed to the Pakistani government and seeks a sovereign state encompassing territories in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

In Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the Arakan Defense Army has made military advances and won battles, positioning it to potentially control the largest territory held by an ethnic armed group since the February 2021 coup. Its successes are rallying other ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy fighters to overthrow the military regime led by coup leader and then-President Min Aung Hlaing.

In Senegal’s Casamance region, there is hope for improved relations with the new government in Dakar, as their fellow countryman Ousmane Sonko has become prime minister. Casamance has been the site of one of Africa’s longest-standing conflicts since 1982, initiated by the separatist Casamance Democratic Forces Movement in response to frustration over marginalization and exploitation by the central government. The conflict persists, though at a lower intensity.