Senegal wants support from Beijing in the Sahel

Senegalese Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall said she hoped, Sunday November 28 at the opening of a China-Africa summit in Dakar, that China would provide support in the fight against insecurity in the Sahel, where several countries are destabilized by the activities of jihadist groups.

Speaking to the press after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, M^me Sall said he hoped China would “A strong voice” in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. “We would like the voice of China, given its influence, to be a strong voice to support Senegal and all the countries involved in the problem of insecurity in the Sahel”, she said.

The minister stressed that the armies of the region deployed in the Sahel – of which Senegal is part – need to “Many more legal means to be able to fight against terrorists and against irredentism”.

Xi Jinping on video link

Much of the Sahel, notably Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, have for years been confronted with incessant attacks by jihadist groups, despite the presence of French forces from Operation Barkhane and peacekeeping. of ONU.

The China-Africa summit, which opened on Sunday, in Dakar will focus on trade and security. It will be held until Tuesday. It takes place after a tour in November by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal, amid growing rivalry between Beijing and Washington.

China is the African continent’s largest trading partner, with direct trade reaching more than $ 200 billion in 2019, according to the Chinese embassy in Dakar.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Félix Tshisekedi, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in particular must participate in this summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will address attendees on Monday via video link, organizers said.