In a statement in Bignona, the department where the majority of the bodies are based, Ziguinchor loggers called on the authorities to address two concerns that threaten to undermine their profession. The first objective of this meeting was to request the renewal of the National Union of Loggers. The second relates to the decree banning the exploitation of timber and artisanal timber.

Chérif Gadjigo, the secretary general of the Ziguinchor Regional Union of Forestry Operators, emphasized the importance of renewing the bodies at the national level following the death of the national president. "This union lost its president four months ago. We want to carry out a national renewal of the national union down to the grassroots levels."

For the secretary general of the Ziguinchor cooperatives (Kagnarou, Bignona, Tenghory, Santhiaba and Boucotte), this meeting in Bignona is a call to the government. "Our hope is that the government supports us, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, which can order the governors to organize the renewal of the basic bodies."

These loggers took this opportunity to raise the issue of timber acquisition in the natural Casamance. "The situation of loggers in the three regions of Ziguinchor, Sédhiou, and Kolda is alarming. Because we have been deprived of timber, of standing timber. We all know that there were protests, there was the Casamance crisis, which is why President Macky Sall, at the time, issued a decree to temporarily suspend timber and artisanal timber operations," said Chérif Gadjigo. Hence their call for the new authorities to review the decree.

"We are called to live. We have our children, we have our families. This is the work God has entrusted to us. We ask the new government to open the three regions to exploitation, especially artisanal timber," pleaded the secretary general of the Ziguinchor Regional Union of Foresters, Chérif Gadjigo.