Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, visited Mali on Thursday for discussions with the transitional Malian President, Assimi Goïta, before proceeding to Ouagadougou later in the evening. This brief visit underscores a commitment to strengthening historical ties of good neighborliness, solidarity, and multifaceted cooperation, carrying significant symbolic weight.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, democratically elected and dressed in a suit and tie, standing beside Assimi Goïta, the interim president in military attire. “This reflects the continuation of his policy of good neighborliness and marks an important diplomatic moment,” commented a researcher.
President Faye advocates for dialogue and firmly believes in African integration, according to a source at the presidency. His mission is to persuade the countries of the Sahel States Alliance to rejoin ECOWAS. This dual visit aligns with this goal.
This gesture is a strong sign of respect from the Senegalese president, aiming to strengthen ties that had significantly deteriorated during the tenure of former President Macky Sall, who was highly critical of the Sahelian military regimes.
Analysts highlight Faye’s youth, democratic legitimacy, and his clear rejection of sanctions against the AES countries as significant assets.
Key Issues at Stake
In Mali, a major concern is securing its southeastern border to prevent the infiltration of jihadist groups and to maintain strong commercial relations with Senegal, its primary economic partner. Discussions included the importation of sheep from Mali for the Tabaski festival and progress on restoring the railway between Dakar and Bamako. Notably, Faye did not publicly address the issue of elections, with a presidential source noting, “It’s a matter of internal politics.”
President Faye then traveled to Burkina Faso, where he held an hour-long meeting with the transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. In this meeting, he reiterated the same message as in Bamako, discussing security cooperation and efforts to combat terrorism, transnational crime, and human trafficking.
Through these engagements, President Faye continues to champion dialogue and regional integration, seeking to mend and enhance relations within the Sahel and broader West African region.