Senegal

Political relations

Relations between Senegal and France are close and multi-faceted, and political leaders from the two countries meet often. Senegal is the only sub-Saharan African country with which France holds an intergovernmental seminar (alternating between Dakar and Paris). The fifth edition of the seminar took place in Champs-sur-Marne on 8 December 2022, bringing together some twenty French and Senegalese ministers, chaired by the two Prime Ministers.

Presidents Macron and Faye have met on numerous occasions and held several telephone conversations. They have notably agreed to organize, in the coming months, another intergovernmental seminar in Dakar, which will be an opportunity to enact the strategic priorities of our renewed bilateral partnership. This seminar will cover all the fields of our bilateral relationship, including security, defence and economic issues.

President Faye visited France from 26 to 28 August 2025. He was received by the President of the French Republic and the Minister. He participated in the Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, a business networking event organized by MEDEF in order to promote investment in Senegal. The Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, visited Paris in April 2026: he was received by the Minister on that occasion.

Economic relations

In 2023, France regained its rank as leading supplier of goods to Senegal, with 12% of market share compared to 10.9% for China (after 9.2% for France and 10% for China in 2022). Trade reached €1.1 billion, with a surplus of €937 million in 2023 for France, which makes Senegal France’s third-largest customer in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire.

France is also the leading investor in Senegal with 17% of foreign investment in 2021, but its relative weight is in decline (66% of FDI stock in 2015). The 270 French businesses and entities established under Senegalese law and owned by French nationals play a key role in the country’s economic vitality; they employ more than 31,000 people and contribute significantly to tax revenues of the government.