Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko recently presided over the official send-off ceremony for the Senegalese delegation heading to Nairobi. This significant high-level gathering, known as the « Africa Forward » summit, is scheduled to take place in Kenya until May 13, 2026. It brings together heads of state, prominent financial institutions, and key private sector stakeholders. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is already on site, will be joined by a team of ministers and financial experts, all committed to articulating a groundbreaking perspective on the international stage.
Before their departure, the head of government emphatically conveyed a clear directive, aligned with Senegal’s national sovereignty project: « We are going to Nairobi to champion an unambiguous principle: there can be no true development without sovereignty, and no sovereignty without independent financing. » For Dakar, the objective extends beyond mere attendance; it is about actively influencing the redefinition of the continent’s funding mechanisms, aiming to dismantle conditionalities that are often perceived as stifling for African economies.
The « Africa Forward » summit is set to introduce an innovative format for discussions between the African continent and France. Key debates will encompass pressing topics such as debt restructuring, securing funds for vital infrastructure projects, advancing the energy transition, and addressing critical peace challenges. Senegal aims to advocate for more equitable public-private partnerships (PPPs), which will facilitate resource mobilization while simultaneously preserving the nation’s strategic decision-making autonomy.
