Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is set to visit Türkiye on 1 November 2024, in one of his first international trips since taking office. His visit highlights the deepening relations between Senegal and Türkiye, focusing on bilateral agreements, ongoing projects, and expanding cooperation across various sectors.
In recent years, Senegal and Türkiye have signed several significant agreements, notably in trade, infrastructure, education, and defense. One of the key developments was the 2016 Agreement on Mutual Trade and Economic Cooperation, which aimed to boost economic ties by enhancing trade volumes and investment opportunities between both countries. Additionally, Türkiye has played a crucial role in infrastructure projects in Senegal, including the construction of the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center (CICAD) and Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport, completed in 2017 by Turkish companies.
Other cooperation areas include education, with Türkiye providing scholarships to Senegalese students through the Türkiye Scholarships program, which supports hundreds of students pursuing higher education in Türkiye. In 2020, Türkiye also assisted in the health sector, supplying medical equipment and expertise during the pandemic. Moreover, military cooperation was bolstered with a defense agreement in 2021, focusing on joint training, intelligence sharing, and defense industry collaboration.
During his visit, President Faye will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and attend a Türkiye-Senegal trade forum in Istanbul, organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK). Faye’s visit will also include engagements with various cooperation sectors to explore further collaboration. His trip emphasizes the broader objective of strengthening Türkiye-Africa relations.
Earlier in October 2024, the Turkish Foreign Ministry, in consultation with Senegalese officials, laid the groundwork for this visit. Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Minister Burhanettin Duran and Khare Diouf, Secretary General of Senegal’s Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the Türkiye-Senegal political consultations in Dakar. Discussions covered bilateral relations, regional issues, and final preparations for President Faye’s visit.
This visit further cements the growing partnership between the two nations and highlights Türkiye’s increasing engagement with African countries.