In southern Senegal, cattle rustling continues to devastate communities despite strict laws aimed at curbing the practice. Since 2017, Senegalese legislation has made cattle theft a crime punishable by five to ten years in prison, without pardon or reprieve.
Yet, in the lush plains of Balantacounda, on the border with Guinea-Bissau, raids remain frequent and often violent.
Between January and August 2025 alone, the department of Goudomp reported the disappearance of 764 animals, according to the local vigilance committee.
Of these, only 310 were recovered, with the rest vanishing across the porous border.
“These figures, cumulative for the last few years, represent a treasure and a colossal economy that is evaporating like this and with impunity,” said Jean Séraphin Mané, president of the committee.
Each theft strips families of vital resources, from food security to funds for schooling and social ceremonies.
The border region has become increasingly volatile, with armed gangs crossing into Senegal with ease.
Breeders report facing administrative hurdles and corruption when attempting to recover stolen livestock in Guinea-Bissau, deepening a sense of frustration.
Tired of the ineffectiveness of joint security committees, some herders are threatening to take matters into their own hands.
Malang Camara, a local breeder, noted: “Cases of cattle theft are just as recurrent in Guinea-Bissau. Moreover, we receive individuals who clearly tell us that they have come for a cattle theft campaign.”
Cattle rustling in southern Senegal is evolving from a rural security issue into a broader diplomatic and social challenge.
National legislation punishes theft severely, but porous borders and cross-border trafficking continue to undermine enforcement.
Herders face a double vulnerability: their livelihoods under constant threat and an increasingly volatile environment that risks escalating tensions if no durable solution is found.
Without decisive action, this ongoing crisis threatens not only the economic stability of southern communities but also the delicate social and diplomatic relations between Senegal and its neighbours.
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