Rwanda Delivers Presidential Message to Senegal Amid OIF Diplomacy

Dakar, 18 March 2026 - Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, has delivered a message from President Paul Kagame to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation. According to Senegal’s presidency, the meeting focused on shared priorities within the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), particularly in the areas of youth and economic development. Discussions also highlighted efforts to support the candidacy of Louise Mushikiwabo for another term as Secretary-General of the OIF. Rwanda has been actively engaging partners to back her re-election bid. Prior to her visit to Senegal, Minister Mukazayire traveled to Mauritania, where she met President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to seek support for the same candidacy. President Kagame re-nominated Mushikiwabo in January 2026. She has led the OIF since 2019 and began her second term in November 2022, positioning her for a potential third term. Rwanda and Senegal maintain longstanding diplomatic ties, reinforced by regular high-level exchanges. In recent months, both countries have signed cooperation agreements covering sectors such as agriculture, health, and development. The latest diplomatic engagement underscores Rwanda’s continued efforts to consolidate regional and international partnerships, particularly within Francophone institutions.