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Senegal - Russia Relations

Russia is ready to assist Senegal and other African countries in strengthening their defense capabilities and counterterrorism readiness, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on 27 August 2024. Speaking after talks in Moscow with his Senegalese counterpart Yassine Fall, Lavrov highlighted the growing threat posed by Islamist groups in West Africa and emphasized the importance of joint countermeasures. “Russia is ready to assist Senegal and other African countries in strengthening their defense capabilities and enhancing the counterterrorism readiness of their armed forces and special services,” the Russian foreign minister stated.

Lavrov noted that Islamist groups are gradually expanding their influence across West African nations, including Senegal’s neighbors. The Russian diplomat said coordinated efforts are crucial to countering the spread of terrorism in the region, noting that “we share a common interest in joining forces to combat these threats.”

In addition to defense support, Sergey Lavrov announced that a cybersecurity center is being established in Senegal. “This is an area where we have accumulated very positive experience, both at the national level and within the framework of bilateral relations with many partners, as well as at the UN, where, at our initiative, work is underway on the development of norms and principles for ensuring international cybersecurity,” he said.

Yassine Fall stressed that Senegal is committed to strengthening economic and political ties with Russia, describing the relationship as rooted in “friendship and brotherly ties.” “We are ready to cooperate and hope to elevate our interaction, particularly in economic relations, while also maintaining a strong political dialogue,” she added.

On 17 April 2017, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Mankeur Ndiaye, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad of the Republic of Senegal, who had come to Moscow on a working visit. During a substantive discussion of practical issues of Russia-Senegal cooperation, Moscow and Dakar’s mutual commitment to expanding political, trade and economic, investment and humanitarian relations was affirmed. Also, the two ministers noted significant potential for stepping up their partnership by implementing promising joint projects in geological prospecting and exploration of mineral resources, shipbuilding, energy, fishing and infrastructure, as well as by stepping up direct business-to-business contacts, including through chambers of commerce and business associations of Russia and Senegal. Moreover, an agreement was reached on exchanging experience in working with compatriots living abroad.

The ministers also had a substantial conversation on key issues on the international and regional agendas, with an emphasis on unblocking the crisis situations in Africa, in particular in the Sahara-Sahel region, the Central African Republic, Mali, Libya, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr Lavrov gave a detailed account of Russia’s efforts aimed at a prompt political settlement of the Syrian crisis. The Foreign Ministers expressed a common view in favour of establishing a broad counter-terrorist front with the central coordinating role of the UN on the basis of international law and free from any double standards. In this connection, a high level of understanding between Russia and Senegal was underscored, and the countries’ commitment to further cooperation within the UN and on other multilateral platforms was confirmed.