The Association for the Protection of Animal Production and the Fight against Livestock Theft in Senegal (APPAL VB Senegal) organized a press conference to alert the authorities and the public about the resurgence of livestock theft in several regions of the country.

Speaking to the press, the association's leaders expressed the concerns and dismay of the farmers facing recurring thefts that are permanently undermining pastoral and rural activity, particularly as Tabaski approaches, a period marked by a high demand for sheep.

According to APPAL VB Senegal, despite the enactment of the law criminalizing cattle theft, obtained through advocacy by stakeholders in the sector, numerous difficulties persist in its implementation. The association denounces, in particular, "laxity in certain investigations, administrative and judicial delays, as well as sentences deemed too lenient imposed on repeat offenders."

"Cases sometimes drag on for more than four years with dozens of hearings, while some criminals benefit from provisional release," lament the organization's leaders.

Based on statistics attributed to the National Gendarmerie, APPAL VB Senegal asserts that 62% of recorded offenses in 2025 concern cattle theft. According to the association's figures, the total amount of livestock stolen during this period is estimated at 1,062 head.

It also indicates that the regions of Thiès, Diourbel, Kaffrine, Louga and Saint-Louis are among the areas most affected by the phenomenon.

The organization's leaders also drew attention to the violence of the criminal networks involved in these robberies. According to them, the perpetrators often operate heavily armed and do not hesitate to use their weapons, causing numerous deaths and serious injuries among the herders.

Through this statement, APPAL VB Senegal calls on the authorities to strictly enforce the law criminalizing cattle theft, systematically arrest those involved, compensate victims, and return stolen goods.

The association also advocates for the organization of citizen awareness-raising forums, the establishment of vigilance committees in villages, and the recognition of cattle theft as a national disaster in order to create a public fund to support victimized farmers.