President Paul Kagame and his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, held talks in Dakar on Sunday, November 1, focusing on cooperation between their countries, regional and international issues, and Africa’s growing role in hosting major sporting events.
The meeting took place as Kagame concluded a visit to Senegal, where he had attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.
According to the Office of the President at Village Urugwiro, the two leaders discussed key areas of cooperation between Rwanda and Senegal, alongside regional and global developments.
After the meeting, Faye accompanied Kagame to Léopold Sédar Senghor Military Airport as the Rwandan leader departed Senegal.
The Dakar meeting follows a series of engagements aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries.
Rwanda opened its embassy in Dakar in 2011, providing a platform for closer diplomatic engagement. Senegalese President Faye visited Rwanda in October 2025, when he held talks with Kagame on expanding bilateral cooperation.
During that visit, the two countries signed five agreements covering visa exemptions for holders of ordinary, diplomatic and service passports, as well as cooperation in agriculture, health, development planning and monitoring, and correctional services.
Cooperation was further expanded on October 7, 2026, when Rwanda and Senegal signed 11 agreements and cooperation instruments during the first session of their Joint Permanent Commission in Kigali. The agreements covered areas including political consultations, trade and investment, education, technology, culture and justice.
The latest talks in Dakar came as Senegal hosted the Youth Olympic Games, which bring together about 2,700 young athletes aged 15 to 17 to compete in 25 sports. The Games are taking place in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly and run until November 13.
Rwanda is represented by nine athletes competing in athletics, swimming, cycling, taekwondo and kung fu wushu.
Kagame’s participation in the opening ceremony and his meeting with Faye brought together sporting and diplomatic engagements during the visit, as the two countries continue to pursue cooperation across several sectors.
