Economic relations between France and Senegal intensified in 2023, marked by a volume of exchanges reaching 1.1 billion euros. This reinforcement is part of a historic framework of multifaceted cooperation between the two nations. France has resumed its place as the main supplier of goods in Senegal, with a market share of 12 %, thus relegating China to the background. In sub -Saharan Africa, Senegal is now the third trading partner in France, after South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire.
In terms of foreign direct investments (FDI), France continues to have a dominant influence, representing 17 % of the FDI identified in 2021. The diversity of Franco-Senegalese relations is also manifested through cultural, scientific, and military cooperation . However, increasing tensions are observed under the effect of the new Senegalese regime, posing a risk on this traditional balance.
Senegal is distinguished as the only country in sub -Saharan Africa with which France organizes a biannual intergovernmental seminar, a status which underlines its political stability in the region. French companies participate in the Senegalese economy by using more than 30,000 people and by making a significant contribution to the country’s tax revenues.
Franco-Senegalese trade ended in a surplus of 937 million euros for France. With regard to imports, these have reached 7,207 billion FCFA, stressing France as the main trading partner in Senegal, ahead of China and Nigeria. This commercial dynamic is supported by the data from the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) which are a drop in exchanges of 6.1 % in 2023.
In terms of exported products, the main positions are dominated by petroleum products, gold and phosphoric acid. These sectors promise strong growth with the upcoming entry into force of new oil and gas resources.
French investments in Senegal increased considerably between 2011 and 2023, reaching 2.4 billion euros. Although Senegal is the fourth destination of French ideas in ECOWAS, it maintains its second position within UEMOA, after Côte d’Ivoire. More than 270 French companies operate in Senegal, mainly employing Senegalese citizens.
-France’s commitment is also reflected in public development aid. The French Development Agency (AFD) has invested around 2 billion euros there since 2007, encompassing various key sectors such as agriculture, education and energy. In 2023, a budgetary loan of 150 million euros was granted to Senegal, supporting its economic program accompanied by the IMF.
On the cultural and scientific level, France is represented in Senegal through the French Institute and several French alliances, as well as by a large number of Senegalese students in France. The Franco-Senegalese campus, launched in 2019, embodies fruitful university cooperation with around thirty joint training courses.
In terms of technical assistance, France deploys experts in Senegal in crucial fields such as democratic governance and the fight against terrorism. In addition, cooperation between French and Senegalese local communities is vigorous, with nearly 100 partnerships.
This information was reported by Jean Pierre Malou on the site of our colleagues from Sud Quotidien.
