President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, is on an official visit to Spain from March 24 to 26, at the invitation of King Felipe VI. Announced by the presidency as a trip aimed at strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between Dakar and Madrid, this visit comes at a time when Senegal is seeking to reassure its partners, attract more capital, and assert its status as a stable platform in West Africa.
Beyond the protocol, the focus is on boosting business relations. Senegal is no longer seen just as a reliable political ally, but as a land ready to host long-term projects. In an international context marked by increased competition between African economies to attract financing, Senegal aims to establish an image as a strategic opportunity hub, as showcased during the Invest in Senegal Forum held from October 7 to 8, 2025.
During that forum, Bassirou Diomaye Faye had expressed his country’s interest in collaborating with investors to support national development through various priority sectors such as agro-industry, green energy, mining transformation, blue economy, and digital technology.
Context: President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s visit to Spain is part of Senegal’s efforts to attract investments and strengthen international partnerships.
Fact Check: The President’s visit aims to enhance business ties and promote Senegal as a viable investment destination.
The relationship with Spain is crucial for Senegal, given Spain’s geographic proximity to West Africa, human connections with the region, and growing interest in connectivity, employment, and economic presence in Africa. Senegal also seeks to expand its circle of European partners by utilizing Madrid as a gateway to broader financial, industrial, and institutional networks. This presidential visit serves as both a positioning operation and a bilateral consolidation effort, aligning with Spain’s priorities in its renewed relationship with Africa.
The foundation for this economic rapprochement already exists. On August 28, 2024, COFIDES, a Spanish development financing company, and the Sovereign Strategic Investment Fund of Senegal (FONSIS) formed a strategic alliance to increase Spanish private investments in Senegal and West Africa. This concrete framework provides support for high-value-added projects and enhances Senegal’s credibility with investors in the current capital competition.
Fact Check: The strategic alliance between COFIDES and FONSIS aims to boost Spanish investments in Senegal and West Africa, emphasizing the tangible benefits for both parties.
The visit of Bassirou Diomaye Faye is part of a broader Spanish deployment towards Africa. The Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028 explicitly highlights strengthening political, economic, and human ties with the continent, with a particular focus on neighboring regions such as West Africa. Senegal plays a pivotal role in this architecture, given its relative institutional stability, Atlantic facade, access to regional markets, and ambitious economic transformation goals.
Fact Check: Senegal’s selection of key sectors aligns with the country’s development priorities, focusing on improving local production, reducing import dependence, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
The success of this visit will be measured not by the quality of the protocol or the intensity of statements, but by the ability of both capitals to translate this diplomatic engagement into financed projects, actual establishments, skills transfers, and job creation.
