Editing Foreign relations of Senegal (section)

=== OMVS ===
The Organization pour la Mise en Valeur de la Fleuve Sénégal ([[OMVS]]) or the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River Basin was established in 1972 and consists of four member states: Senegal, Guinea, Mali, and Mauritania.<ref name=":82">{{Cite web |title=Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du fleuve Sénégal (OMVS) |url=https://www.omvs.org/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=OMVS |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Former Senegalese President Senghor is considered one of the "founding fathers" of the organization.<ref name=":82" /> The goals of the OMVS are to promote the economic integration, development, and sustainability of the river basin which provides essential natural resources to member states.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Amar |first=M. Ould |date=1972 |title=L'Organisation Pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Sénégal |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-african-law/article/abs/lorganisation-pour-la-mise-en-valeur-du-fleuve-senegal/8184F7F62A7AB157BB77CEDE9696ABDE |journal=Journal of African Law |language=en |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=299–303 |doi=10.1017/S0021855300011670 |s2cid=145461233 |issn=1464-3731}}</ref> Dakar, the capital of Senegal, relies on the Senegal river for 75% of its water usage.<ref name=":92">{{Cite book |last=Schmeier |first=Susanne |chapter=The Senegal River Basin and the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Sénégal (OMVS): Benign Conditions, Deficient Effectiveness |date=2012-12-12 |title=Governing International Watercourses |pages=237–288 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |doi=10.4324/9780203105160 |isbn=978-0-203-10516-0}}</ref>

The OMVS has been an effective organization at developing the [[Senegal River Basin Development Authority|Senegal River Basin]], but have experienced diplomatic and environmental problems throughout its existence. The most serious of these conflicts was between Senegal and [[Mauritania]]. In the late-1980s and early-1990s, there were a series of violent clashes between Senegalese farmers and Mauritanian herders over scarce resources near the river.<ref name=":92" /> After the murder and expulsion of Senegalese farmers from Mauritania, troops from both countries were mobilized to the border and over 100 Mauritanians were killed in Dakar while the rest were expelled.<ref name=":92" /> The only remaining Mauritanians in Senegal were diplomats working for the OMVS which remained the only diplomatic relationship between Senegal and Mauritania at the time.<ref name=":92" /> This period almost saw the two countries go to war and cemented current tensions within the organization despite continuing plans for development and research.