President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has advocated for an "inseparable" link between environmental protection and economic development in Africa. Co-chairing a roundtable discussion on the blue economy with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Senegalese head of state emphasized that Africa remains "the least polluting continent," while simultaneously being the one that "suffers more severely than any other from the effects of climate change."

 

According to a post from the presidency on social media, Bassirou Diomaye Faye advocated an approach that reconciles ecological imperatives with aspirations for development. "Preserving the planet and the legitimate right of populations to prosperity and dignity must now go hand in hand," he argued before several African leaders.

 

Mr. Faye also highlighted Senegal's vision for the blue economy, based on "three inseparable dimensions": environmental protection, economic progress, and the equitable sharing of revenues derived from the exploitation of marine and river resources.

In this regard, he mentions several reforms and programs including the modernization of the fishing sector, the development of aquaculture, land reform, the structuring of agricultural cooperatives as well as the implementation of modern post-harvest conservation systems.

 

Furthermore, the President of the Republic emphasized the promotion of green tourism, which is presented as a lever to preserve ecosystems while promoting job and income creation.