Russian interest in strengthening relations with Senegal is increasing, placing it as a priority on Russia’s strategic agenda to expand its influence in West Africa and the Sahel. This involves diverse tools and mechanisms that reinforce Russian approaches aimed at affirming its presence on the African stage and solidifying its global standing.
Moscow understands the potential of economic and military avenues to solidify its relationships with Senegal, especially in the context of regional challenges that have characterized recent years. Moscow aims to establish a military cooperation agreement with Senegal in the near future, capitalizing on the rise of the current president, Basseer Diumaye Faye, who came to power in April 2024, and seeking to establish closer economic ties with Dakar. This reflects the pragmatic nature of Russia’s approach towards Africa in general and Senegal in particular.
These Russian movements are a source of significant concern for the West, especially France, given that Senegal is one of the last strongholds of French influence in West Africa and the Sahel, which has noticeably declined in recent years—particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. This concern is exacerbated by recent tensions in Franco-Senegalese relations, especially following Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s denunciation of foreign military bases on Senegalese soil and his announcement that Senegal is currently reviewing its military cooperation with Paris. This highlights the potential for strengthened Russo-Senegalese ties at the expense of declining French influence in Dakar, which may enhance international competition, particularly between Russia and France, in West Africa in the upcoming stage, leading to possible regional tensions.
Features of Closeness
Moscow has strongly enhanced its ties with Dakar in recent years, as reflected in various interactions that demonstrate Russia’s commitment to developing relations with Senegal. The most notable features include:
Building Strong Political and Diplomatic Relations:
There is a mutual desire between Moscow and Dakar to strengthen political and diplomatic relations in light of each party’s efforts to maximize their strategic interests in the region. This was evident in the exchange of numerous official visits between officials from both countries, notably the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Senegalese President Macky Sall last year (2023), as well as the meeting between Mikhail Bogdanov, Putin’s special envoy to the Middle East and Africa, and the current president, Basseer Faye, to discuss bilateral cooperation. Additionally, Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall visited Moscow in August 2024 to foster bilateral partnership and economic cooperation. Within the framework of its efforts to gain influence in Senegal, Moscow is leveraging its strong relationships with certain Senegalese political figures to steer relations towards more closeness and cooperation, such as with Jean-Baptiste Ten, the Senegalese ambassador to Moscow until 2024, who has a strong friendship with Bogdanov.
Alignment of International Stances:
Moscow consistently emphasizes the importance of Senegal as a reliable partner in Africa. This is evidenced by Senegal’s neutral stance regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war within the halls of the UN, where Dakar abstained from voting twice on resolutions condemning Moscow in Kyiv. Additionally, the deterioration of relations between Senegal and Ukraine serves Russia’s interest in containing Kyiv’s movements in the African arena, following the Ukrainian ambassador’s publication of videos supporting attacks against Russian African Legion elements in northern Mali in July 2024, prompting Senegalese authorities to summon the Ukrainian ambassador and issue allegations against him.
Developing Economic Relations:
Following Basseer’s ascension to power in Senegal, Moscow rushed to enhance economic and trade cooperation, particularly in the oil sector. During the recent visit of the Senegalese Foreign Minister to Moscow, both sides aimed at a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation, enhancing partnerships in various sectors such as energy, technology, education, and agriculture, as part of efforts to establish strategic relationships. The Senegalese government has initiated talks with Russian oil company Lukoil to exploit the Yakar-Teranga field since the exit of British Petroleum, especially as there is increasing interest from Senegal to benefit from the extensive expertise of the leading Russian company in oil and gas. Furthermore, discussions between Russia and Senegal are ongoing regarding modern technologies, as the Senegalese government reached out to representatives of the Russian telecommunications company “Rostelecom” in August 2024, focusing on transferring Russian technology to Africa, particularly Senegal. In line with efforts to strengthen Russian-African relations, particularly with Senegal, the African-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Investment was inaugurated in Senegal in July 2024. Moscow seeks to inject more Russian investments into Senegal by encouraging Russian companies to operate there, a role undertaken by Igor Morozov, the head of Africom, the body tasked with promoting Russian commercial interests in Africa. The city of Atayas in Senegal signed a partnership agreement with the Russian city of Sevastopol in July 2024, obtaining funding of one billion CFA francs, with a Russian delegation expected to arrive in Atayas to begin implementing several designated projects there.
Cooperation to Address Security Challenges:
Security and military cooperation between Moscow and Dakar represents a significant avenue for their rapprochement, especially since the military cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in 2018 marked a step towards strengthening Russian-Senegalese defense relations. Both parties are expected to conclude a new security agreement that includes conducting joint naval exercises between the two countries’ forces and allowing Russian warships to access Senegalese ports, along with cooperation in combating piracy and assisting the Senegalese navy in conducting surveys in maritime areas. The agreement also indicates the deployment of Russian trainers in Dakar for counter-terrorism training, which will include training in technical interception, communication interception, and military medicine. The two countries aim to collaborate to tackle security and humanitarian challenges in the Sahel, emphasizing their united stance on reducing terrorist activities in the Sahel and West Africa and the urgent need to eradicate them. Moscow has signaled its readiness to support African nations, including Senegal, to enhance their defense capabilities and combat terrorism, aligning with Russia’s endeavor to be a reliable partner in efforts to promote regional stability in West Africa. This has prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to underscore the importance of regional cooperation in combating terrorism and offer to share experiences with Dakar in this regard, including in the field of cybersecurity. In this context, Moscow supports Sahel and West African countries with regular shipments of Russian weapons, including attack aircraft and helicopters provided to some countries in the region, such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso over the past two years. It has even offered to sell combat helicopters to integrate into the Senegalese Air Force, particularly after delivering an M-17 aircraft deal in December 2023. Moscow also provides training support for Senegalese forces involved in UN peacekeeping missions, training in demining, and handling explosive devices.
Russian Interest in Soft Power:
The humanitarian and cultural approach holds relative importance in Russian policy towards Africa to improve the perception of Russians among Africans. Moscow offers training in various fields, primarily in education; it announced an increase in the number of scholarships from 75 to 102 for the upcoming year (2025), and there is an agreement between Moscow and Dakar to train Senegalese national cadres. Russia is also enhancing its cultural policy in several African nations, particularly in Senegal, by encouraging young Senegalese to learn the Russian language; around 50 schools are teaching Russian in 13 Senegalese provinces, with approximately 6,600 students currently studying it and expectations to double this number. In March 2024, Moscow and Dakar signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in human rights, which was seen by some as a significant milestone in the cooperation between the two countries. This agreement aims to enhance collaboration on educational projects and exchange effective methods of protecting social, cultural, political, and civil rights.
Russian Interests
Several factors drive Russia to enhance its relations with Senegal, which can be highlighted as follows:
Strategic Location of Senegal: Senegal boasts a strategic location in West Africa with access to the Atlantic Ocean and borders several African countries, making it a vital gateway to the African hinterland. Senegal’s economy is marked by diversity, covering sectors such as agriculture, fishing, services, and mining. Hence, Moscow seeks a stable and strong ally on the Atlantic coast to ensure its political, economic, and security interests.
Senegal’s Status at the African Level: Dakar holds significant geopolitical relevance in the regional context, playing a prominent role in continental and regional organizations such as the African Union and ECOWAS. Moscow could benefit from this in leveraging its relations with other African countries, as Senegal participates in regional peacekeeping initiatives to support overall stability in the continent and especially in West Africa.
Efforts to Secure African Resources and Wealth: Oil and gold are the primary motivators pushing Moscow towards Senegal, as it seeks to access more wealth and resources—previously dominated by France and the West in past years—to sustain its economy, which is threatened by the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and the subsequent Western sanctions imposed on Moscow since the conflict began.
Senegal as a Gateway for Russian Investments: Moscow views Senegal as an oasis of stability in a troubled regional landscape, facilitating the emergence of a new market that, in turn, bolsters the sales of Russian products and attracts more Russian companies to West Africa to commence projects there, thus enhancing Russian presence in the region.
Importance of Senegal in the Energy Market: Senegal’s status is escalating following significant discoveries in the energy sector, particularly in oil and gas, with expectations of becoming a key player in the global energy market, making Senegal a partner with competitive advantages important for Moscow.
Promotion of Russian Defense Industries: This is especially true given Moscow’s endeavors to establish its defense industries in Senegal, potentially serving as a launchpad to transfer these industries to several neighboring countries in West Africa and the Sahel, or at least making Senegal a crucial market for defense and armament industries in the region.
Securing Russian Maritime Influence on African Coasts: Senegal’s geopolitical positioning in the region enhances Russian interest in extending its influence to maritime ports in the Gulf of Guinea, through which an increasing percentage of international trade passes. Furthermore, potential Russian access to the Atlantic coast could threaten certain active international powers, such as the United States, particularly as they fear any Russian or Chinese presence on the western coasts of the African continent.
Countering Western Influence in West Africa: Moscow recognizes that its rapprochement with Dakar aligns with its strategic goals and interests in West Africa, primarily encircling French influence, particularly in Senegal, especially as Paris has noticeably diminished its role in the African arena. This is potentially exploitable by Moscow to expand its influence and bolster its international standing in West Africa and the Sahel.
In summary, the rapprochement and cooperation between Moscow and Dakar serve as a double-edged sword for Russia’s geopolitical interests; while this cooperation allows Moscow to expand its influence in the continent and counter Western presence, it simultaneously exposes Russians to competition and conflicts with certain international powers, such as France and the West, which could lead to an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region.
