Senegal has deployed its army to counter rebels in the southern Casamance region, near its southern border with The Gambia.

A statement by the military chief of staff said the operation was aimed at preserving the integrity of the country's territory.

"In the framework of their mission to secure people and goods, the army on Sunday 13 March 2022, launched an operation with the main objective of dismantling the bases of Salif Sadio's MFDC faction," the statement said.

"This operation also aims to destroy all armed bands participating in criminal activities in the region," it said.

Media outlets in the Gambia reported sounds of gunshots around the border region, noting that several families had fled in search of safety.

The operation comes a month after Senegalese soldiers who had been detained by separatist rebels were released in The Gambia.

In January, clashes between Senegalese troops and the rebels allied to the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) left four soldiers dead.

According to AFP, the MFDC is behind a low-intensity separatist conflict in Senegal's southern region of Casamance that dates back to 1982 and has claimed several thousand lives.