Abéné Airfield

The primary reason for the airfield's closure was economic abandonment resulting from the Casamance Conflict. This separatist conflict, which began in 1982 and intensified through the 1990s, devastated the region's tourism industry. Abéné, once a popular tourist destination, became insecure, leading to a collapse in visitor numbers. With no demand for tourist or private charter flights, the airstrip lost its purpose, fell into disrepair, and was eventually abandoned without any official decree.

The site is currently abandoned and unused for aviation. Satellite imagery of the coordinates (13.0101, -16.7213) clearly shows the outline of the former runway, which is approximately 850 meters long. However, it is heavily overgrown with grass, shrubs, and small trees, making it completely unusable by aircraft. There are no remaining airport buildings, markings, or infrastructure. The land appears to be unused, reverting to nature, with some tracks indicating occasional local vehicle or foot traffic crossing the former strip.

Abéné Airfield was a small, rudimentary airstrip with an unpaved (laterite/dirt) runway. Its main significance was supporting the local tourism economy of Abéné and the surrounding Casamance coast. During its active years, likely in the 1970s and early 1980s, it handled light aircraft carrying tourists and private pilots directly to the area, bypassing the longer and more difficult road journey from major cities. It was an important asset for the small hotels, resorts, and cultural tourism that characterized the region before the conflict.

There are currently no official plans or credible prospects for reopening Abéné Airfield. While the security situation in Casamance has significantly improved since the 2010s and there is a renewed push to develop tourism, regional air transport efforts are focused on the much larger and better-equipped Cap Skirring Airport (GOGS), located about 35 km to the south. Reopening the Abéné strip would require substantial investment to clear, regrade, and secure the runway, and the economic viability is considered low given the proximity of the superior facilities at Cap Skirring. A reopening would likely only be considered if tied to a major, specific private resort or eco-tourism development in the immediate Abéné area.