Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made his first visit to France this Wednesday since his election last March. Invited to France as part of the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation, President Faye will meet Emmanuel Macron during a lunch at the Élysée Palace on Thursday. Discussions will focus on trade agreements between the two countries, the question of the CFA franc and the French military presence in Senegal.
In May, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said the country’s desire to determine its own path was “incompatible with the established presence of foreign military bases” on Senegalese soil.
Before flying to Paris on his first trip outside Africa, Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a series of visits to neighboring countries, including Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast , Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone.
The meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Bassirou Diomaye Faye could help ease tensions linked to the political crisis in Senegal which preceded the new president’s coming to power. Between 2021 and 2024, the legal standoff between Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko and the former Senegalese government caused several periods of unrest, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of arrests.
Senegal and France have historically maintained strong political and economic relations. However, Faye, a left-wing Pan-Africanist, insists that such partnerships are mutually beneficial.
This meeting at the highest level between the French and Senegalese leaders is of crucial importance for the future of relations between the two countries. It offers a unique opportunity to strengthen cooperation and lay the foundations for a fruitful and balanced collaboration serving the common interests of both nations.
By positioning himself in favor of sovereignty and innovation in vaccines, President Faye demonstrates his desire to advance Senegal on the international stage, while defending the interests and dignity of his people. This visit to France marks the start of a new era of cooperation and partnership between the two countries, based on mutual respect and the promise of a better future for all.