DR ‹ › Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko addressed a conference in Dakar yesterday, co-hosted with French expert Pascal Boniface, where he laid out his vision for Africa's development and sovereignty. During his speech, Sonko proposed the concept of an Africa comprising «55 States», implicitly recognizing the «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)». This position might raise eyebrows, considering Senegal's longstanding recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, a stance reinforced by the opening of a consulate in Dakhla on April 5, 2021. Sonko's reference to the «55 States» of the African Union could be interpreted as a diplomatic message aimed at Algeria. Since taking office on April 2, 2024, Ousmane Sonko has asserted his right to pursue a «sovereign» foreign policy, independent of any «tutelage», marking a departure from his predecessors and reflecting what he describes as «the new Senegal». In his speech, Sonko also criticized smaller nations, explicitly mentioning Israel and the Scandinavian countries. One might wonder if the «SADR» falls into this category under the prime minister's perspective. Sonko leads the party Les Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l'éthique et la fraternité, commonly known as PASTEF, which he founded in 2014. Relations between Rabat and Dakar are currently strained. The tensions were highlighted by the incidents during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) between Morocco and Senegal, which are just the visible part of deeper issues. Dakar is set to host the Forum on Security and Peace in Africa on April 20 and 21. Typically, Morocco is represented at this event by high-ranking officials, such as the head of government or the foreign minister.
