Senegal-Iran Foreign Relations

Nuclear:

Senegal’s President Adoulaye Wade publicly told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that he endorses Iran’s right to nuclear power for peaceful purposes in November 2009.  Wade explained that he believed Ahmadinejad’s assurances that Iran did not seek to use uranium for anything but civilian nuclear purposes.[1]

Economic Relationship:

Iran and Senegal have established ties and sought out greater bilateral economic cooperation. The two nations have signed memoranda of understanding on trade and energy ties.[2] Since then, leaders from both countries have expressed a desire to continue increasing bilateral cooperation between them.[3] Energy ties, in particular, have grown between Iran and Senegal. In 2008, Senegal acknowledged Iranian technical expertise as integral to the completion of a energy project in Senegal.[4] In 2009, Iran pledged to provide funding and materials to build a Khodro car factory, tractors, an oil refinery, and a chemical plant. Iran also pledged to provide oil to the Western African nation.[5]

Diplomatic/Military Relationship:

Senegal and Iran’s diplomatic relations have been especially active in the last decade. Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade has paid four official visits to Iran – in 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2009.[6] Several Iranian leaders visited Dakar during the same period, including Iranian President Ahmadinejad who has been a regular visitor since 2006. After Ahmadinejad’s most recent visit in November 2009, Wade expressed confidence in “the assurance by his Iranian counterpart to not exploit uranium for anything other than peaceful and civilian uses.[7] In 2008, after meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Senegalese president stated that his nation “always set Iran as our example.”[8]