The President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, visited the residence of the Bishop of Ziguinchor this morning. This visit, undertaken in the spirit of peace and fraternal communion on this Christmas Eve, was warmly received by the local ecclesiastical authorities.

For Bishop Jean-Baptiste Valter Manga, this trip is a powerful symbol. "First and foremost, for me, Bishop of Ziguinchor, and for the entire Christian community, it is a great source of pride to welcome the President of the Republic."

I expressed this to him. Last year, at my ordination, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was present. This year, for the anniversary of my ordination, the Head of State himself is visiting us. This is a true sign of closeness with the Church and the Christian community of Ziguinchor,” he declared to RFZ (Religion Foi Ziguinchor).

Beyond the formalities of protocol, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss substantive issues. The Bishop emphasized the relevance of this visit, which coincides with the President's economic tour of the South of the country.

“We discussed several topics concerning the region and our Church. I wanted to tell him how grateful we were for this gesture of attention. This region, marked by a long-standing conflict, has suffered greatly. It is imperative to give it a boost so that it can truly restart its development,” explained the Pastor of the Diocese of Ziguinchor.

This meeting strengthens the dialogue between the State and religious authorities, which is essential for consolidating peace and social cohesion in Casamance.