Press releases - 2026 May 13
The President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, departed Nairobi, Republic of Kenya, for Dakar this Wednesday, following his participation in the Africa Forward Summit: Partnerships between Africa and France for Innovation and Growth, held from May 10 to 12, 2026, in the Kenyan capital.
Co-organized by Kenya and France, this high-level gathering brought together several Heads of State and Government, leaders of international institutions, business executives, and innovation stakeholders to discuss sustainable growth, economic sovereignty, and the transformation of the African continent.
During the summit proceedings, the Head of State promoted Senegal’s vision of a sovereign and innovative Africa, fully engaged in shaping major global economic and strategic balances. He attended the official opening ceremony at the Kenya International Convention Centre alongside several African and international leaders, as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
On the sidelines of the summit, the President of the Republic held several bilateral meetings with institutional, economic, and diplomatic partners. He notably met with Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, to discuss the international economic situation and the measures undertaken by Senegal to preserve the resilience of its economy amid global tensions.
The Head of State also met with Mr. Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Chief Executive Officer of Danone, accompanied by Mr. Bagoré Bathily, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of La Laiterie du Berger. Discussions focused on the development of local value chains, agro-industrial transformation, and the strengthening of productive investments in Senegal.
On the diplomatic front, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye held meetings with the President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and the President of the Republic of Botswana, Duma Boko, with a view to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation among African states.
The Head of State also co-chaired, alongside the Prime Minister of Mauritius, a high-level roundtable dedicated to the blue economy. On that occasion, he advocated for sustainable governance of marine and river resources, combining environmental protection, economic development, and the fair distribution of revenues generated from maritime ecosystems.
The President of the Republic further reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to promoting the continent’s sporting and cultural influence through the hosting in Dakar of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event ever organized on African soil.
Senegal’s participation in the Africa Forward Summit provided an opportunity to strengthen exchanges with several international partners and to highlight the country’s strategic priorities in the areas of economic sovereignty, innovation, ecological transition, and African integration.