On 23 October, the UK and Senegal held the first ever session of the High Level Political Dialogue between the two countries in London. The Political Dialogue (PD) was co-chaired by the Right Honourable Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister for Africa and Development, and His Excellency Ismaïla Madior Fall, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Senegalese Abroad.
Both Ministers welcomed the excellent and mutually beneficial bilateral relations between the two countries, and the productive partnership between Senegal and the United Kingdom. They underlined their determination to deepen the partnership to promote peace and prosperity in our two countries and to tackle together the greatest challenges facing the world.
They welcomed the signing, on 23 October 2023 in London, of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Ocean Country Partnership programme. They also recalled the ever Economic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Senegal signed in January 2023.
Ministers agreed that the UK-Senegal Political Dialogue will take place annually and act as a mechanism for identifying and progressing shared objectives, notably on foreign, economic, climate, environmental, and defence and security policy.
Foreign policy
The ministers discussed a range of foreign policy issues and agreed on the importance of working together to address the challenges threatening international peace and security. They also discussed the situation in the Sahel and the Middle East.
Defence and Security
Ministers welcomed the close collaboration between the relevant authorities in our two countries on tackling security threats and serious organised crime, particularly our cooperation on maritime security and countering international drugs trafficking, and the joint training between our armed forces. They welcomed the successful visit of HMS Trent to Dakar a few weeks ago. They stated their commitment to strengthening the defence and security relationship between the UK and Senegal. The UK remains extremely grateful to Senegal for its support to Royal Air Force operations since 2020 and praised the significant Senegalese contribution to UN Peacekeeping Operations. Senegal appreciates its productive defence partnership with the UK, including support with training and education of Senegalese officers. In this context, the UK and Senegal envisage signing a Defence Cooperation Agreement which will further deepen the security cooperation between our two nations.
Economics and Trade
Ministers took note with satisfaction that Senegal is a priority country for the new UK British Investment Partnerships initiative, centred around a long-term approach combining investment, guarantees (including through UK Export Finance), technical assistance and development cooperation to foster sustainable economic growth and create jobs.
Ministers welcomed the growing trade between the two countries, which increased by 50% from 2021 to 2022. The UK's new Development Countries Trading Scheme makes it easier for businesses in Senegal to export to the UK.
The Ministers welcomed the UK's increasing investment in Senegal, with the UK being the largest foreign direct investor in the energy sector. They also welcomed increasing UK investment in infrastructure, including via British International Investment (BII) contribution to the new, modern deep water port at Ndayane (with an overall value of $1.1 billion).
Reforming International Governance and System
The Ministers agreed on the need to increase African voice across the international system and welcomed the African Union seat in the G20, following the initiative undertaken, and completed to admission, by His Excellency President Macky Sall during his Presidency of the African Union in 2022. The UK reiterated its support for permanent African representation in the UN Security Council.
They also agreed on the importance of reforming the international financial system and encouraged the key international financial institutions to provide significantly more development finance to developing countries.
The two parties welcomed Senegal's leadership in advocating for developing countries in multilateral fora and welcomed further collaboration to progress international governance, economic and financial reform objectives.
The Ministers are convinced of the important role that Climate Resilient Debt Clauses (CRDCs) can play in strengthening fiscal capacity for countries to respond to natural disasters. The UK and Senegal will work together to explore opportunities for CRDCs, including integrating CRDCs into UKEF lending.
Energy, Climate and Environment
The parties re-affirmed their determination to work together to address climate change, one of the most pressing challenges of our time. They welcomed the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreed between the G7 and Senegal, and working together to support Senegal's energy transition, in particular by using its gas as a transitional energy source as well as the UK's financial contribution, and Senegal's ambitious commitment to raise its share of renewables from 31% now to 40% by 2030.
They recognised the need for better access to green finance to achieve global climate commitments, including to deliver Nationally Determined Contributions. In this context, they welcomed the UK's record contribution of $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund, announced in September 2023. They also welcomed that Senegal was a priority country for the new UK Blue Planet Fund.
Development Cooperation
Ministers welcomed Senegal's progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. They discussed the main areas of cooperation including their partnership on global health security, through the Institut Pasteur de Dakar and the UK Fleming Fund; on healthcare, through the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria and the Global Alliance on Vaccines; on women and girls, through the Global Partnership for Education and by tackling Female Genital Mutilation; and on English language training, through the British Council.
