This was Faye’s first official visit to Côte d’Ivoire since taking office in March.
The discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). President Faye emphasized the importance of reform within ECOWAS to ensure its “sovereignty” and address recent departures of member states like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Both leaders stressed their commitment to working together to achieve this goal. President Faye highlighted the need for “solidarity” and “dispelling misunderstandings” within the organization. He believes that strengthening regional bodies like ECOWAS is crucial for the development of individual member states.
The discussions also covered bilateral relations between Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. While acknowledging the strong historical ties between the two nations, both presidents acknowledged the need to increase economic exchange which they believe falls short of its potential.
President Faye expressed interest in learning from Côte d’Ivoire’s success in the agricultural sector and emphasized areas like security and education for further collaboration. He proposed reviving the Joint Commission, which hasn’t met since 2014, to solidify cooperation across various sectors.
President Ouattara echoed the desire for stronger ties and accepted the invitation for an official visit to Senegal for further discussions. Both leaders believe their recent oil and gas discoveries position their economies for significant growth, allowing them to improve the lives of their citizens.
This visit signifies Senegal’s commitment to regional leadership and its efforts to strengthen ECOWAS in the face of recent challenges.
AP/fss/abj/APA