The new Director General of the Senegalese Consortium for Maritime Affairs (COSAMA), Baba Tall, paid a working visit to Ziguinchor to present plans for the recovery of the port of Ziguinchor and the opening up of the southern regions (Ziguinchor, Sédhiou and Kolda) by sea.

Speaking to the press, he reiterated the essential mission entrusted by the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, through his Prime Minister and Head of Government. "Our mission is to find solutions and provide services to develop and support all the potential that this region has to offer," he said.

The CEO of Cosama states that exchange meetings have been held with all economic operators, from the cashew, mango and other sectors, to move towards a safe, regular service and allow the evacuation of all products from Casamance.

However, to achieve this revitalization of the activities of the port of Ziguinchor and the revival of the region's economy, prerequisites are necessary, in particular, the question of dredging the river.

On this specific point, Baba Tall provides assurances that this request will be effectively addressed. "We have a great facility here. We have no problems with the Dakar train station. But if we have two facilities without the ability to navigate safely, that poses a problem," explained the CEO of Cosama.

On the dredging project, he informs: "I spoke with my counterpart, Bécaye Diop, who reassured me about this project, of a plan to dredging the river in his 2026 plan. The studies have started. To reassure you that in the ANAM plan, there is a vast program to dredging the river which today goes from 5 meters to more than 8 meters. The objective is that in 2026, this dredging project will be carried out."

The CEO of Cosama also announced a plan for the transit of cashew nuts by sea to relieve economic operators and other stakeholders in the sector. "The cashew nut campaign is a very, very important point on which we are working to prepare and offer a service to everyone for the 2026 campaign. The 2025 campaign is coming to an end. We met with local authorities, including the governor, but also economic operators in this sector. We are anticipating because the cashew nut sector is something that is very important for Senegal," Baba Tall said.