Türkiye, Senegal Eye Enhancing Cooperation in Key Sectors

Addis Ababa, August 8,  2025  (ENA) --- Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday.

Sonko was personally invited to Türkiye by Erdoğan as the two countries seek ways to improve ties.

The two countries signed four agreements covering the fields of defense, media, and education.

The visit aims to “deepen cooperation” between the two nations, according to Turkey’s head of communications.

Senegal, which gained independence from France in 1960, stands out in West Africa owing to its stability and institutionalized democracy.

In 2018, Erdoğan paid an official visit to Senegal, accompanied by several Cabinet ministers. In 2019, Senegal's then-President Macky Sall visited Istanbul for the opening of the Çamlıca Mosque.

Erdoğan paid another official visit to Senegal in 2020, which included a business forum. Private sector representatives annually hold business forums in Senegal.

Developing relations and cooperation with African countries is one of the cornerstones of Ankara’s multidimensional foreign policy.

Türkiye’s engagement with the African continent has been gaining pace over the years. Since assuming office nearly two decades ago, first serving as prime minister, Erdoğan has been fostering ties with Africa, presenting Türkiye as a fairer player than the continent’s former colonial powers.

Ankara has emphasized its desire to advance relations with the continent based on a win-win relationship and equal partnership while maintaining mutual respect.

Both sides have been vowing to tap into their greater potential for further expanding and deepening relations.