The Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, led the official send-off ceremony for the Senegalese delegation bound for Nairobi this morning. The high-level ‘Africa Forward’ summit, running until May 13, 2026, brings together heads of state, international donors, and key private sector players in Kenya.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, already on-site, will be joined by a ministerial team and financial experts. Their mission? To champion a bold agenda on the global stage, echoing the administration’s commitment to national sovereignty and economic autonomy.
Before departure, the Prime Minister underscored a non-negotiable stance: ‘Our goal in Nairobi is clear—no development without sovereignty, and no sovereignty without self-funding.’ For Dakar, the summit represents more than participation—it’s a platform to reshape Africa’s financing frameworks, breaking free from what are seen as crippling conditionalities imposed on the continent’s economies.
key topics on the agenda
The ‘Africa Forward’ gathering introduces a fresh dialogue format between African nations and France. Core discussions will tackle pressing challenges such as:
- Debt restructuring to ease financial pressure on African economies
- Strategic infrastructure financing to unlock growth
- Energy transition and sustainable development pathways
- Regional peace and stability priorities
Senegal is pushing for fairer public-private partnerships (PPPs) that balance resource mobilization with the preservation of strategic decision-making autonomy. The delegation aims to secure deals that align with national priorities while fostering long-term economic resilience.
