Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his Gabonese counterpart Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema are on a joint mission to strengthen a strategic alliance transcending traditional regional orbits.
The bilateral dynamic between Senegal and Gabon, combining diplomacy, economics, and security, could help redraw the balance of power on the African continent.
President Faye’s high-profile presence at his Gabonese counterpart’s inauguration last Saturday at the Agondje Stadium in Libreville, illustrates the turning point in relations between Dakar and Libreville.
Through this strong diplomatic gesture, Senegal confirms its commitment to Gabon in an increasingly structured and diversified cooperation. This closeness has accelerated since the two leaders came to power: Bassirou Diomaye Faye, democratically elected in March 2024, and Brice Oligui Nguema, after the coup of August 30, 2023, which overthrew Ali Bongo.
Before taking power, Oligui Nguema held key positions in the Gabonese security apparatus, notably as aide-de-camp to Omar Bongo, military attaché in Dakar, and later commander-in-chief of the Republican Guard, the spearhead of the regime.
The ties between the two states are now based on multisectoral cooperation.
“The legal framework for our cooperation is rich and covers diverse areas: politics, military, education, vocational
training, culture, youth, sports, and the economy,” President Faye said during General Oligui Nguema’s official visit to Dakar last December.
The meeting resulted in a mutual commitment to elevate the bilateral partnership “to a higher level.”
The Dakar-Libreville axis is also evident on the diplomatic front.
Libreville has given strong support to Senegalese Amadou Hott’s candidacy for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
In February, Senegalese Foreign Minister Yassine Fall visited Libreville to thank the Gabonese president for this support in a highly competitive regional race.
This strategic agreement takes on a unique dimension: it brings together a West African country and a Central African nation, in a spirit of South-South convergence that is rarely leveraged with such coherence. The two capitals are increasing the number of joint projects and exchanges of expertise, particularly in the sectors of
security, youth training, and economic integration.
Building on their recent political trajectories and a shared desire to strengthen African integration, Dakar and Libreville affirm their desire to build a political axis capable of influencing diplomatic balances in Africa.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA