Senegal’s brightest young minds have made history at the 32nd Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), clinching a landmark fourth place in the overall team rankings and securing the country’s best-ever medal haul.
Competing against students from 20 African nations in early June 2025, Senegal’s six-member delegation showcased mathematical excellence on a continental stage long known for its fierce academic competition.
At the heart of the team’s success were two standout performers: Ameth Babou and Fadima Wane.
Babou, already crowned Best Student of the 2025 Concours Général, confirmed his dominance in mathematics by taking home a gold medal in the main PAMO competition.
Alongside him, Fadima Wane made a historic impact of her own.
She earned gold in the PAMO Girls category and also secured a silver medal in the general rankings—an achievement that positions her among the continent’s top young mathematicians.
“These results mark the first time that Senegal has obtained two gold medals in the same edition of PAMO,” the organizing committee confirmed, describing the Senegalese team’s performance as “a reflection of rigor, creativity, and intellectual maturity.”
The competition, widely regarded as the most prestigious mathematics contest in Africa, draws attention each year to students capable of solving high-level theoretical problems under time pressure.
The Senegalese delegation was selected through a rigorous national qualifying process, designed to identify and prepare the country’s top secondary-school mathematicians.
While the medals offer national pride, they also raise a deeper question: how can Senegal better support and retain young talent in science and technology?.
As the country aims to expand its footprint in innovation and digital transformation, education leaders are calling for increased investment in scientific excellence.
The academic journeys of Babou and Wane, shaped by demanding yet empowering instruction, are now seen as symbols of what is possible when young potential is nurtured with purpose.
These achievements, observers say, are more than mere accolades—they are a clarion call for a sustained national strategy that transforms intellectual brilliance into long-term societal advancement.
