Senegalese President Faye Meets Macron in Paris to Reset Bilateral Relations and Strengthen Partnerships

Edited By: Safae Fathi

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye arrived in Paris on Wednesday and met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace for talks. The meeting comes weeks after France closed its last military bases in Senegal, ending more than six decades of permanent presence in the country. Both Dakar and Paris have emphasized that the withdrawal of troops does not signify an end to security cooperation, and the discussions aimed to reset bilateral relations while addressing historical grievances, economic tensions, and emerging partnerships.

Faye, who requested the departure of French forces following his 2024 election victory, has pledged to make Senegal more self-reliant and to engage with France as with any other foreign partner. Among the central topics of the discussions were France’s colonial legacy, including the 1944 incident in which Senegalese soldiers who fought for the Allies in World War II were killed. Senegal has long sought the release of related archives and official recognition of the scale of these killings, viewing progress on this matter as a step toward greater transparency and balance in relations.

In addition to historical and diplomatic issues, the leaders explored common priorities such as sustainable development, education, and healthcare, while also considering regional and global challenges. Later in the day, President Faye attended a meeting with France’s top business leaders organized by MEDEF, the country’s largest employers’ association, reflecting efforts to strengthen economic ties and promote mutual investment opportunities between the two nations.