Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye began a three-day state visit to Spain on Tuesday. Having arrived in Madrid after attending the development financing conference in Seville last June, the Senegalese head of state intends to forge a strategic alliance with Spain, a major trading partner for Dakar.

A high-ranking welcome at the Palace of the Orient

The significance of this visit is underscored by the honors accorded to the Senegalese president. This Wednesday, March 25, he will be received by King Felipe VI in the most prestigious room of the Royal Palace. This meeting will be followed, on March 26, by an official luncheon with the royal couple and an economic forum organized by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

Major financial and strategic stakes

The central focus of this trip is strengthening bilateral cooperation by 2030:

1. Financial aid on the rise: Spain will increase its aid to 180 million euros (approximately 118 billion FCFA) for the next four years, an increase of 50 million euros compared to previous commitments.
2. Key sectors: These funds will support the national program "Vision Senegal 2050" , targeting access to water, agriculture, education and vocational training.
3. Migration issue: For Madrid, Senegal remains an indispensable ally for coastal surveillance and the management of migration flows towards the Canary Islands.

A visit under the critical gaze of the Spanish press

Despite the desire for closer ties expressed by Pedro Sánchez 's government, this trip has sparked debate. The conservative Spanish press, particularly the newspaper ABC , has criticized the increase in financial aid. Critics point to the recent tightening of Senegalese legislation against homosexuality, which now doubles the penalties.

Senegal, a leading economic partner

Spain is currently Senegal's fourth-largest trading partner, after China and France. Ahead of the presidential visit, the foreign ministers of both countries ratified a new framework agreement for country partnership, confirming their shared commitment to transforming vocational training into a concrete alternative to irregular migration.