La Politique Etrangere du Sénégal Depuis 2000

The document analyzes Senegal's foreign policy since 2000, noting a transition from 'classic' diplomacy to a 'technicized' approach where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lost its monopoly to specialized ministries and non-state actors. It highlights the 'hyper-power' of the presidency, the marginalization of the legislative and judicial branches, and a strategic shift toward emerging economic partners like China and Dubai. The paper concludes that while President Abdoulaye Wade's tenure was marked by high personalization and pan-Africanist ambitions, the 2012 election of Macky Sall signaled a return to more traditional diplomatic relations, particularly with France and neighboring states.

• Since 2000, Senegal's foreign policy has undergone a 'technicization,' where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs no longer holds a monopoly on external relations, as specialized ministries and non-state entities now manage technical domains.
• The President of the Republic holds overwhelming power over foreign policy, supported by constitutional provisions that grant the executive authority to negotiate international engagements and ratify treaties, often bypassing other government organs.
• The Senegalese Parliament has limited influence over foreign policy, as it is often excluded from negotiations and frequently bypassed through 'simplified form agreements' (executive agreements) that do not require parliamentary authorization.
• The judiciary's role in foreign policy is marginal, with very few instances of constitutional conformity checks or 'conventionality control' where international norms are used to override national laws.
• Under President Wade, Senegal shifted toward 'economic diplomacy,' prioritizing relations with emerging powers and the 'BRICS' over traditional partners, exemplified by the Diamniadio platform project involving Dubai Ports World.
• There was a renewed emphasis on pan-Africanism and immediate political unity for the continent since 2000, moving away from the gradualist approach favored in the 1960s.
• Foreign policy under President Wade was highly personalized, which occasionally led to diplomatic tensions, such as contradictory positions on the extradition of Hissène Habré and provocative statements regarding Côte d'Ivoire.
• The 2012 election of Macky Sall marked a return to 'classic' diplomacy, characterized by restored privileged relations with France, a focus on 'good governance' to attract international support, and improved relations with neighbors like Gambia and Mauritania.

APA

Sall, A. (2013). La Politique Etrangere du Sénégal Depuis 2000. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Occasional-Paper-140.pdf

Chicago

Sall, Alioune. La Politique Etrangere du Sénégal Depuis 2000. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Occasional-Paper-140.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sall |first1=Alioune |title=La Politique Etrangere du Sénégal Depuis 2000 |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=April 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Occasional-Paper-140.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sall2013politique, author = {Sall, Alioune}, title = {{La Politique Etrangere du Sénégal Depuis 2000}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Occasional-Paper-140.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }