The British Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, begins a two-day official visit to Senegal today, marking his second visit to the country since his appointment. This visit, which is part of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, aims to consolidate the strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and Senegal, based on “mutual respect and shared values.” Lord Collins said: “I am delighted to return to Senegal, one of the United Kingdom’s closest partners in the region. My visit this week aims to take stock of our shared achievements and strengthen our win-win partnership, to boost economic growth in both our countries and jointly address global challenges related to health, security, and climate.”

A busy agenda with major announcements

Lord Collins will begin his visit with a bilateral meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, followed by active participation in the African Food Systems Forum. On this occasion, he will announce a £5 million (approximately 3.7 billion FCFA) partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). This fund will support the implementation of the Kampala Declaration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agri-Trade Action Plan, underscoring the UK's commitment to supporting African solutions for sustainable agricultural transformation. Another highlight will be the announcement of a £10 million (7.6 billion FCFA) investment over four years with the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD). This partnership, the first of its kind between the UK Foreign Office and an African health research institution, will strengthen epidemiological surveillance, vaccine and diagnostic innovation, and regional research capacity. Lord Collins said that "this partnership will help IPD address Africa's specific health challenges, working with UK partners such as Oxford University and the UK Health Security Agency," thus contributing to Senegal's sovereign ambitions in health.

Strengthening governance and industrialization

Lord Collins will also co-chair the second UK-Senegal Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Yassine Fall, addressing topics including the economy, defense, and sustainable development. With Finance Minister Cheikh Diba, he will launch a new public finance management support program, welcoming Senegal's efforts in economic transparency. This program, developed with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Treasury, includes an exchange of expertise and executive training. He will also announce the next phase of the Manufacturing Africa program, supporting Senegal's industrialization strategy ahead of the Invest in Senegal conference in November.

Business dynamics and expanded cooperation

The visit will include a meeting with the new British Chamber of Commerce in Senegal, which brings together more than 50 companies that have invested $5 billion (around £3.7 billion) in sectors such as energy and telecommunications. Lord Collins will celebrate the tripling of bilateral trade since 2020, reaching nearly 650 billion FCFA, and encourage new partnerships. The strategic dialogue will also reaffirm shared commitments to international peace, particularly on Gaza, where the UK has pledged to recognize the Palestinian state at the UN if Israel fails to act.

This visit, which continues on September 2 with bilateral discussions, reflects the British desire to "reconnect with the world" by prioritizing respectful partnerships.