The new Senegalese president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, wanted to “dispel misunderstandings” within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), during a visit Tuesday to Abidjan, where he met with his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouattara.
In January, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, three West African countries led by military regimes resulting from coups d’état, announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, which they accuse of being subservient to France and of not supporting them enough in the anti-jihadist fight.
“I am convinced that we must continue to act in solidarity within the ECOWAS area, to make the necessary reforms and to work to dispel the misunderstandings which cannot fail to arise,” declared Bassirou Diomaye Faye during the a press briefing on Tuesday.
ECOWAS “is a formidable integration tool” that “we will benefit from preserving”, added the head of state, in power since the beginning of April.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger also discussed the exit of the CFA franc and the creation of a common currency for their three countries.
During his presidential campaign, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a 44-year-old anti-system candidate, also advocated a break with the CFA franc, a currency currently used by eight West African countries (Senegal, Mali, Burkina, Niger, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Guinea-Bissau).
“At the sub-regional level, the challenges are complex, they are enormous,” the Senegalese president said on Tuesday.
“We are at a turning point where we must measure the seriousness of the real threats and the decline of States, as well as the risk of disintegration of our union,” he added.
Several West African countries, such as Burkina, Mali and Niger, are the target of recurring jihadist violence which leaves thousands of civilian and military dead.
On the bilateral level, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Alassane Ouattara both described relations between their countries as “excellent”.
“We can still do more”, “in the agricultural sector”, but also livestock breeding, defense and security, said Mr Faye.
Alassane Ouattara, almost 40 years his senior, also wanted to “strengthen” these relations, after having “welcomed the smooth running of the Senegalese presidential election”.
President Faye succeeded the outgoing Macky Sall after a victory in the first round against the government candidate, former Prime Minister Amadou Bâ.
