Matan is like many Cardassians in that he wants his people to regain their superior status in the galaxy.

Source: https://gamerant.com/star-trek-best-game-only-characters/

Perhaps no other species lost more in the Dominion War than the Cardassians; they once sat at the center of a mighty empire, but they lost every bit of it thanks to the war.

Source: https://screenrant.com/star-trek-cardassians-hate-sisko-federation/

She returned as a lieutenant on a mission to infiltrate the Maquis, a terrorist group undermining the Federation's treaty with the Cardassians.

Source: https://comicbook.com/startrek/news/star-trek-picard-season-3-episode-5-who-is-ro-laren/

The Federation handed over control of people's homes to the Cardassians, and Sisko's act is an extreme example of this appeasement.

Source: https://screenrant.com/star-trek-sisko-worst-crimes/