Kagame and Faye discuss Rwanda-Senegal partnership in Dakar
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Rwanda News Agency, The New Times (Rwanda) and Panorama Rwanda
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, regional and international issues, and Africa’s role in hosting major sporting events in Dakar, according to Rwanda News Agency, The New Times and Panorama Rwanda. The meeting came amid the eleven agreements signed in October and the Youth Olympic Games, which bring together about 2,700 athletes, according to The New Times.
The meeting was held on 1 November 2026 in Dakar, where Paul Kagame had arrived the previous day to attend the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games at Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium, according to Panorama Rwanda. Bassirou Diomaye Faye later accompanied him to Léopold-Sédar-Senghor military airport at the end of his visit. This is the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Africa, Panorama Rwanda noted.
Relations between Kigali and Dakar cover diplomacy, trade, the economy, education, agriculture, health and culture. Rwanda opened its embassy in Dakar in 2011, followed by Senegal opening one in Kigali in 2020, according to Panorama Rwanda.
During a visit by Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Rwanda in October 2025, the two countries signed five agreements covering, among other things, the movement of passport holders, agriculture, health, planning, monitoring development programmes and prison management. On 7 October 2026, the first meeting of their Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation in Kigali resulted in eleven documents, while the RDB and APIX signed an agreement to boost investment and trade, Panorama Rwanda reports.
