From 20 to 22 February, Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier payed an official visit to the Republic of Senegal.
On 21 February, the Federal President held political talks in the capital, Dakar, with the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, and with Members of the National Assembly. He also met representatives of the business community and gave a speech at the laying of the foundation stone for the new building of Goethe-Institut Senegal.
At a meeting with civil-society representatives on 22 February, the Federal President learned about current developments in the country. He then visited the island of Gorée, off the coast of the capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site serving as a reminder of the abduction of people from the West African coast for the Atlantic slave trade. While on the island, the Federal President visited the German class at a PASCH girls’ school and also had discussions with experts on the conflict situations in the Sahel region.
Back in Dakar, the Federal President heard about the current state of plans for future vaccine production in the country.
This was the second visit to Senegal by a Federal President. As well as expressing appreciation for the bilateral relations between the two countries, it was intended to encourage Senegal to continue along its path of reforms. At the start of the year, Senegal took over the chair of the African Union. President Macky Sall visited Berlin most recently in August 2021.
Overview of the programme:
Sunday, 20 February
- Arrival in Dakar
Monday, 21 February
- Breakfast with representatives of Germany’s political foundations
- Presidential Palace
Welcome with military honours by the President of Senegal, Macky Sall - Talks with the President of Senegal
- Joint press conference
- Roundtable discussion with representatives from the business community and the members of the German business delegation
- Luncheon hosted by the President of Senegal
- National Assembly
Talks with the President and Members of the National Assembly - Site of the Goethe-Institut in Dakar
Laying of the foundation stone for the new building by the Federal President - Residence of the German Ambassador
Reception hosted by the Federal President
Tuesday, 22 February
- Breakfast with members of civil society
- Port of Dakar
Transfer by boat to Gorée Island - Gorée
Welcome by the Mayor of Gorée - Guided tour of the city and of the House of Slaves Museum
- Mariama Bâ Boarding School (member of the Schools: Partners for the Future initiative)
Participation in a German language lesson and a discussion with the pupils and the German teacher - Gorée Institute
Luncheon and talks with experts on the current state of the conflicts in the central Sahel, in particular in Mali - Transfer by boat to the Port of Dakar
- Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Tour of the future vaccine production facility, a joint project of the Institut de Pasteur and BioNTech - Return flight to Berlin