Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye laid out an ambitious roadmap for U.S.-Senegal cooperation during a high-level meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump on July 9 in Washington.
The encounter, which brought together five African heads of state, was held under a bilateral format that quickly took on regional significance—each leader advocating national priorities while seeking alignment with Trump’s investment-first approach to international partnerships.
President Faye used the platform to underscore Senegal’s institutional stability, ongoing reforms, and appeal to international investors, making a direct pitch for collaboration in three strategic areas: energy, digital infrastructure, and luxury tourism.
“Senegal is open for business,” Faye said, aligning with Trump’s emphasis on investment over traditional aid. He also commended the former president’s peacebuilding efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while reaffirming Senegal’s role in promoting stability in the Sahel, Sudan, and Libya.
Energy potential and strategic transparency
The first proposal centered on natural gas. With an estimated 950 billion cubic meters in reserves, Faye highlighted Kosmos Energy’s involvement in assessing Senegal’s hydrocarbon assets. He said this data-driven approach offers investors “greater visibility” into the country’s resource potential—setting the stage for more transparent and lucrative energy partnerships.
A digital gateway on Dakar’s coast
Faye’s second priority involved the creation of a technology city on 40 hectares of Dakar’s coastline. Designed to host American firms in digital innovation, the site aims to position Dakar as a future tech hub in Africa, with direct connectivity to the Silicon Valley and the U.S. East Coast.
The project aligns with U.S. business interests in expanding digital markets and infrastructure across the continent.
High-end tourism with a Trumpian twist
In a lighter but calculated moment, Faye unveiled his third proposal: a luxury hotel and golf resort targeting elite travelers from the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Just six hours from New York, the destination is pitched as an exclusive getaway. Faye nodded to Trump’s well-known passion for golf, quipping about the project with a tone of camaraderie.
Mutual respect and measured diplomacy
The meeting ended on a positive note. Trump described Faye as “young, resilient, and unfairly treated by the former regime,” offering praise for the Senegalese leader’s navigation of political hurdles.
The tone was relaxed yet purposeful, reflecting a new style of African diplomacy—bold, proactive, and business-minded.
With energy, innovation, and tourism on the table, Faye’s vision may signal a deeper recalibration of U.S.-Africa relations, one grounded not in aid, but in strategic mutual gain.
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